Rockers (1978) on Netflix
Horsemouth, a drummer in a Kingston ghetto, borrows money to buy a motorcycle so he can sell reggae records around the island. That night the bike is taken.
- Netflix4.4/5
- IMDb7.4/102,440 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes100%
Trailer
Plot summary
Horsemouth plays drums in a ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica, and looks for extra income by selling and distributing reggae records. With money he has borrowed, he buys an orange-red 175 motorcycle so he can carry the records to sound systems, bodegas, clubs and dance parties across the island, and a friend paints a Lion of Judah on the gas tank. He collects stock from Jack Ruby and Joe Gibbs, then sells it at various places. At Channel One Studios, Horsemouth is asked to play drums with Jakes and members of Inner Circle at a tourist resort gig. He meets the resort owner's daughter, Sunshine, when he arrives to sign for the job. That night his motorcycle is stolen.
Cast
- Leroy Wallaceas Horsemouth
- Richard 'Dirty Harry' Hallas Dirty Harry
- Monica Craigas Madgie
- Marjorie Normanas Sunshine
- Jacob Milleras Jakes
- Winston Rodneyas Burning Spear
- Big Youthas Big Youth(Manley Buchanan)
- Leroy Smartas Self
- Lester Bullocksas Dillinger
- Ashley Harrisas Higher
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Rockers (1978)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The film captured Kiddus I recording "Graduation In Zion" at Harry J Studios by chance: director Theodoros Bafaloukos turned up at the studio while the singer was cutting the track, and also filmed Robbie Shakespeare arranging a Channel One session for the protagonist.
- Rockers started out as a planned documentary before becoming a full-length feature, which let it show reggae culture at its peak.
- Dialogue from Rockers turned up in the early 1990s jungle track "Babylon" by Splash, in "Terrorist Dub" by the Californian ragga metal band Insolence, in Dreadzone's "Zion Youth" from their 1995 album Second Light, and in 2012 in "Smoke" by Inner Terrestrials.
- Italian singer Alborosie's 2019 song "Living Dread" is a cover of Black Uhuru's "Anthem", and its music video recreates scenes from Rockers and features the film's star, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace.
- Leroy Wallace, Kiddus I and Big Youth reunited in 2018 for two shows in São Paulo, Brazil, marking the film's 40th anniversary.
