This Partner Label release is distributed through Vinegar Syndrome's sister company OCN Distribution. Vinegar Syndrome had no part in, nor are responsible for, the restoration, extras, quality control or any content(s) of this release. We hope you enjoy our growing roster of Partner Labels and the expertise and curation brought to each release by their dedicated staff!
Details
This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Tony Stella)is limited to2,000 unitsand is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!
50th anniversary special edition!
Veteran country musician Jim King (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’s Donnelly Rhodes) has spent decades honing his craft, but he has yet to find success beyond the small-town touring circuit. With a prominent record label circling his current band, King and Country, Jim may be on the brink of a professional breakthrough, but the rest of his life is in disarray. From a suicidal son (Death Wish II’s David Daniels) and a terminally ill friend (Phobia's Neil Vipond) to a rocky romance with his bandmate Jenny (Pinocchio's Birthday Party's Nancy Belle Fuller), Jim’s life is hard – and it’s only getting harder.
The feature directorial debut of celebrated Canadian genre filmmaker Paul Lynch (Prom Night), The Hard Part Begins blends the vivid Canadiana of independent classic Goin’ Down the Road with the unsentimental moral complexity of New Hollywood staples like Five Easy Pieces. Featuring a career-defining performance by Rhodes and a collection of unforgettable original songs, The Hard Part Begins is a lost treasure that's finally getting the break it deserves.
directed by: Paul Lynch starring: Donnelly Rhodes, Nancy Belle Fuller, Paul Bradley, Linda Sorensen, Robert Hawkins, Doug McGrath, David Daniels, Leslie Carlson, Neil Vipond 1973 / 87 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD MA 1.0
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original 16mm reversal by Canadian International Pictures with sound transferred from the original 16mm magnetic final mix
Audio commentary featuring director Paul Lynch and former TIFF senior programmer Steve Gravestock
Audio commentary featuring Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pichonsky
A Filmmaker Begins (2023, 26 min.) – New interview with Lynch
After the Hard Part (2023, 13 min.) – Lynch reflects on his body of work
Evolution of a Cinephile (2023, 9 min.) – Lynch discusses his passion for cinema
An Actor Begins (2023, 22 min.) – New interview with actor David Daniels
The Easy Parts Await (2023, 12 min.) – Film historian/filmmaker Daniel Kremer on the early career of Lynch
Reyes on Rhodes (2023, 12 min.) – Film historian/author Amanda Reyes on the career of actor Donnelly Rhodes
Interview with Donnelly Rhodes (1989, 4 min.)
New audio interviews with actor/associate producer Hugh Curry (17 min.) and editor William Gray (14 min.)
Alternate ending (1973, 1 min.)
Afterword featuring Lynch and Gravestock (2023, 9 min.)
Booklet featuring a new interview with actress Nancy Belle Fuller
Reversible cover artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.5466666 / 5 from 75 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The Hard Part Begins is a special limited edition Blu-ray release, praised for its phenomenal film, fantastic story, and outstanding songs. The release is highly acclaimed for its excellence and quality, with a soulful classic feel. The performances and looks are also highly praised, though some customers find the character writing predictable.
"Excellent film about the life of a Canadian country musician with some great performances and songs." — James T.
"The characters are written incredibly well and the songs only help to further the wonderful story telling." — Christian R.
"Great story with great songs, Donnelly Rhodes is fantastic" — Donald M.
Reviews
SKU: CIP-018 SLIP
"I am not a big fan of country music or movies about musicians. Still I grabbed this release by CIP and it was on sale and it's the first feature film by Canuxploitation titan Paul Lynch (Prom Night, Humongous). I'm curious about directing debuts from film makers. And in that sense, this is a great suprise with a nice plot, sympathetic characters and actually very decent music. The transfer is good, but fairly rough and grainy. Don't expect this to look like WALK THE LINE or some other newer movie. There are a lot of extras, but I haven't had the chance to check them all out. Artwork is fantastic too. This is a keeper."
— Dominik F. (4/5)
Begin it
"soulful and authentic character study that looks fantastic thanks to a very natural-looking restoration. It’s a must-own for fans of 70s independent cinema who appreciate great performances and a strong sense of place."
— Kevin G. (5/5)
Watching and Enjoying This Fine Film Wasn't Hard At All!
"The presentation of this fine flick was really good and included fine acting, a good script and the kind of movie that left me wanting more! The peerless VS restoration transfer process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
— Paul K. (5/5)
Canadian Drama
"The Hard Part Begins is a quietly affecting 1973 Canadian character drama that follows aging country singer Jim King as he drifts through small‑town bar gigs, old wounds, and fading dreams. The film’s strength lies in its unvarnished realism: Donnelly Rhodes delivers a grounded, melancholic performance as a man confronting the limits of his talent and the consequences of his past. Shot on a modest budget, the movie embraces its scrappy, lived‑in aesthetic—something critics note gives it an authentic 1970s Canadian atmosphere. Its downbeat tone, focus on interpersonal tensions, and refusal to glamorize the musician’s life make it a compelling, if understated, portrait of a performer stuck between nostalgia and the harsh truth of dwindling opportunities."
— Tarek E. (3/5)
Fantastic!
"One of my favorite partner label discoveries. Carries the working class shoulders of films like Five Easy Pieces, but with its own country and western tinged relationship between art and artists."
— Nick C. (5/5)
Great
"Great"
— Joseph Z. (5/5)
The hard part begins
"The presentation of the material here is excellent! The music and drama is exactly the kind of thing I’m looking for every now and then and if it weren’t for this release I probably would have never come across this film."
— Philip M. (5/5)
Wonderful release of a gem
"Wonderful release of a gem of a 70s country music film. Glad to have found this through CIP."
— Matthew P. (5/5)
Slightly Tedious Paul Lynch Flick
"Canadian filmmaker Paul Lynch has pumped out some excellent genre films; you know the one I speak of, but -- (VS, if you're listening, we need Cross Country!) Alas, The Hard Part Begins wasn't my favorite by any stretch, but I'm happy to own it nonetheless."
— Jeff W. (2/5)
gritty 70s character study
"With elements of 70s country music, life on the road, no-name strivers, changing times & hard luck scenarios, this is a worthwhile film. As usual, CIP has put together a nice package for yet another film I've never heard of."
— Isaac W. (4/5)
Q&A
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