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Matewan (1987) 7.7
A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company. Director:John SaylesWriter:John Sayles |
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Title: Matewan (1987)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Chris Cooper | ... | ||
| Mary McDonnell | ... |
Elma Radnor
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| Will Oldham | ... |
Danny Radnor
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| David Strathairn | ... | ||
| Ken Jenkins | ... |
Sephus Purcell
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| Kevin Tighe | ... |
Hickey
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| Gordon Clapp | ... |
Griggs
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| Bob Gunton | ... |
C.E. Lively
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| Jace Alexander | ... |
Hillard Elkins
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| Joe Grifasi | ... |
Fausto
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Nancy Mette | ... |
Bridey Mae
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Jo Henderson | ... |
Mrs. Elkins
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| Josh Mostel | ... |
Cabell Testerman
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Gary McCleery | ... |
Ludie
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Maggie Renzi | ... |
Rosaria
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Mingo County, West Virginia, 1920. Coal miners, struggling to form a union, are up against company operators and the gun thugs of the notorious Baldwin-Felts detective agency. Black and Italian miners, brought in by the company to break the strike, are caught between the two forces. UMWA organizer and dual-card Wobbly Joe Kenehan determines to bring the local, Black, and Italian groups together. While Kenehan and his story are fictional, the setting and the dramatic climax are historical; Sid Hatfield, Cabell C. Testerman, C. E. Lively and the Felts brothers were real-life participants, and 'Few Clothes' is based on a character active several years previously. Written by Susan C. Mitchell <susanm@indirect.com>, expanded by Silverwhistle
Taglines:
It takes more than guns to kill a man See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
30 June 1988 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
Azok a véres napok See more »Box Office
Budget:
$4,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$1,680,358 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Lyrics by John Sayles and Mason Daring
Music by Mason Daring
(c) 1987 Daring Music/ASCAP
Sung by Hazel Dickens
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The movie mentions that Sid Hatfield married Mayor Cabell Cornelis Testerman's widow, Jessie Lee Maynard (1894-1976) - just two weeks after the mayor's death. Tom Felts and Charlie Lively accused Sid of killing Testerman himself in the confusion so that he could marry Jessie. However, Jessie stated that her first husband had asked his friend Sid to take care of her and their five-year-old son if anything should happen to him. See more »Goofs
In the scene where the coal company executives are trying to bribe the Mayor and Sid Hatfield, the calendar behind the mayor reads September 1920. The historical shootout at the climax occurred in May of 1920, four months beforehand. See more »Quotes
Joe Kenehan: You think this man is the enemy? Huh? This is a worker! Any union keeps this man out ain't a union, it's a goddam club! They got you fightin' white against colored, native against foreign, hollow against hollow, when you know there ain't but two sides in this world - them that work and them that don't. You work, they don't. That's all you get to know about the enemy.See more »
Soundtracks
"FIRE IN THE HOLE"Lyrics by John Sayles and Mason Daring
Music by Mason Daring
(c) 1987 Daring Music/ASCAP
Sung by Hazel Dickens
See more »
Matewan ranks in the best of the 80's. John Sayles much overlooked tale based on the true events that occurred in the title town. Sayles recreates the past with pastoral images and glowing light. Chris Cooper's Luddite persona and Christlike attitude captures the heart and is evenly balanced by the antagonist's in the film.
The cast is phenomenal. David Straitharn is the dark rider sheriff with a good heart. The final showdown is powerful and sad.
West Virginia is beautifully captured. Cinematography was the only category the Academy of Arts and Sciences recognized as nominating.
The film captures the desperation and determination of people who had very little and were treated like slaves. The Coal Company tried to break the formation of a Union by infecting it with racism and violence. That was the mindset.
The film is spiritual and lyrical showcasing the beauty and creativity of a much overlooked director.