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Matewan
Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.
1987 · Directed by John Sayles · 132 min · Drama · History · 10 frames
Tagline
It takes more than guns to kill a man.
Crew
- Written by: John Sayles
- Cinematography: Haskell Wexler
- Edited by: Sonya Polonsky
- Music: Mason Daring
- Production design: Nora Chavooshian
- Produced by: Peggy Rajski, Maggie Renzi
Cast
- Chris Cooper as Joe Kenehan
- James Earl Jones as 'Few Clothes' Johnson
- Mary McDonnell as Elma Radnor
- Will Oldham as Danny Radnor
- David Strathairn as Police Chief Sid Hatfield
- Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell
- Kevin Tighe as Bill Hickey
- Gordon Clapp as Tom Griggs
- Bob Gunton as C.E. Lively
- Jace Alexander as Hilllard Elkins
Production
- Country: United States of America
- Language: English, Italian
- Studios: Cinecom Entertainment Group, Film Gallery, Goldcrest Films International, Red Dog Films
- Budget: $4,000,000
- Box office: $1,680,358
- Themes: traitor, based on true story, west virginia, gun battle, racism, preacher, double cross, labor organizer, labor union, coal mining
More by John Sayles
On this film
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