Rockers (film)

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Rockers

Directed by	Ted Bafaloukos
Produced by	Patrick Hulsey
Written by	Ted Bafaloukos
Starring	Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace
Release date(s)	1978
Running time	100 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

Rockers is a 1978 Jamaican film. Several popular reggae artists star in the movie, including Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth and Jacob Miller.

Rockers was originally to be a documentary but blossomed into a full-length feature showing the reggae culture at its peak.

In this film, the culture, characters and mannerisms are authentic. The main rocker Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, for example, is shown living with his actual wife and kids and in his own home. The recording studios shown are the famous Harry J Studios where many roots reggae artists recorded during the 70s including Bob Marley.

1 Plot
2 Cast
3 Influence On Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Plot

Horsemouth, a drummer living in a ghetto of Kingston plans to make some extra money selling and distributing records. He buys a motorcycle to carry them to the sound systems around the island. The film starts as a loose interpretation of Vittorio de Sica’s The Bicycle Thief and turns into a fun reggae version of Robin Hood.

[edit] Cast

Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace : himself
Richard "Dirty Harry" Hall : himself
Gregory "Jah Tooth" Isaacs : himself
Jacob "Jakes" Miller : himself
Robbie "Robbie" Shakespeare : himself
Frank Dowding : Kiddus I (himself)
Winston Rodney : Burning Spear (himself)
Manley Buchanan : Big Youth (himself)
Lester Bullocks : Dillinger (himself)

[edit] Influence On Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Rockers was one of the main inspirations for the film Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, which may even be seen as a satire on the reggae movie. While the 1978 film featured a motorcycle and the 1985 film featured a bicycle, in both cases the vehicle was red and headed by the head of a lion. In both films the cool, rocking hero goes on a quest for his stolen bike.