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Matewan

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7.3/10 • 115

1987-08-28 • 2h 12m

DramaHistory

It takes more than guns to kill a man.

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.

Directors
John Sayles
Writters
John Sayles
Editors
John Sayles, Sonya Polonsky

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Chris Cooper

    Chris Cooper

    Joe Kenehan

  2. James Earl Jones

    James Earl Jones

    'Few Clothes' Johnson

  3. Mary McDonnell

    Mary McDonnell

    Elma Radnor

  4. Will Oldham

    Will Oldham

    Danny Radnor

  5. David Strathairn

    David Strathairn

    Police Chief Sid Hatfield

  6. Ken Jenkins

    Ken Jenkins

    Sephus Purcell

  7. Kevin Tighe

    Kevin Tighe

    Bill Hickey

  8. Gordon Clapp

    Gordon Clapp

    Tom Griggs

  9. Bob Gunton

    Bob Gunton

    C.E. Lively

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
$4,000,000.00
Revenue
$1,680,358.00
Keywords
traitorbased on true storywest virginiagun battleracismpreacherdouble crosslabor organizerlabor unioncoal miningworkers union1920scoal minerworker's rightsminers strikemining companyslit throatunion strugglecompany townauthoritarian companyitalian diasporagun deathhired goons