Barbara Ellington, Staff Reporter Looking back at the hurdle that the makers of cult classic, The Harder They Come overcame, it is a miracle the movie got made at all. Those hurdles are chronicled in a documentary by filmmaker, Chris Browne, titled A Hard Road To Travel.
The documentary, which is a tribute to co-writer/direct-or/producer of the movie, Perry Henzell, was screened for friends and film industry people, at Browne's home last Sunday. Perry Henzell is Browne's uncle.
The documentary highlights Henzell's struggles to make the movie and the faith and commitment of those who worked tirelessly to have it seen by the world.
A Hard Road To Travel is an excellent effort by Browne who staged the screening to gauge audience response. And except for a few minor adjustments, it should hopefully be ready for public viewing for next month - Black History Month - if local television stations decide to pick it up.
Mr. Henzell narrates the documantary from his St. Ann home, while scenes from the film flash by.
He told Showbiz that his inspiration for The Harder They Come came from the exploits of legendary gunman Rhygin who, in 1948, had eluded law enforcement officials.
"I wanted to base it on that and tell a Jamaican story in a Jamaican way; nothing compares to an audience seeing itself for the first time on screen," Henzell said.
Among those featured in the documentary are Beverley Anderson-Manley, production team member and actress in a cameo appearance; Winston Stona and Carl Bradshaw, two members of the cast; Franklyn St. Juste, director of photography; Frank Pringle and Pat Rousseau, investors; Robert Russell, first assistant director; Trevor Rhone, co-writer; Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records which produced the soundtrack; Sally Henzell, art director/costume designer and Henzell's wife, as well as Barbara Blake-Hanna, publicist.
The film did very well locally after being banned initially by censors. However, Henzell and his team had a mammoth task trying to market it in European and American markets. But they persisted and once it was seen, it received critical acclaim.
It took six years to repay investors and the movie ran for seven years and went to 43 different countries.
Mr. Henzell, who has authored the novel Power Game, has just completed work on his next book, Cane, a historical work.
In reflecting on The Harder They Come, Mr. Henzell told Showbiz: "I would do it again although the process of making films in Jamaica has not gotten easier with the passing of the years."
Chris Browne grew up hearing his uncle tell fascinating stories about the film.
"I wanted to make the documentary because there's no history of it around. It is significant that Perry was a pioneer," said the filmmaker who was astonished that thre was hardly any documentation of the hype surrounding the opening of The Harder They Come.
As a result, Browne has decided to donate a copy of A Hard Road To Travel to the National Library.
"The music is great, but what about the images of our culture? We are losing it fast because of the American influence," Browne said.
He hopes to submit the documentary as part of the Caribbean filmmakers' contribution to Input, the upcoming film festival in South Africa.
