Matewan (1987)

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles (written by)

Release Date:

30 June 1988 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

It takes more than guns to kill a man

Plot:

A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.

Plot Keywords:

Union | Miner | Labor | Coal Miner | Labor Union

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Joe Kenehan
Mary McDonnell	...	Elma Radnor
Will Oldham	...	Danny Radnor
David Strathairn	...	Sid Hatfield
Ken Jenkins	...	Sephus Purcell
Kevin Tighe	...	Hickey
Gordon Clapp	...	Griggs
Bob Gunton	...	C.E. Lively
Jace Alexander	...	Hillard Elkins
Joe Grifasi	...	Fausto
Nancy Mette	...	Bridey Mae
Jo Henderson	...	Mrs. Elkins
Josh Mostel	...	Cabell Testerman
Gary McCleery	...	Ludie
Maggie Renzi	...	Rosaria
Tom Wright	...	Tom
Michael B. Preston	...	Ellix (as Michael Preston)
Thomas A. Carlin	...	Turley (as Tom Carlin)
Jenni Cline	...	Luann
Michael Mantell	...	Doolin (as Michael A. Mantel)
J.K. Kent Lilly	...	Pappy's Voice (voice)
Ida Williams	...	Mrs. Knightes
James Kizer	...	Tolbert
Ronnie Stapleton	...	Stennis
Davide Ferrario	...	Gianni
Frank Payne Jr.	...	Old Miner
John Sayles	...	Hardshell Preacher
Hazel Dickens	...	Singer
Charles Haywood	...	Sheb
Neale Clark	...	Isaac
Mitch Scott	...	Mister
Hazel Pearl	...	Missus
Michael Frasher	...	Lee Felts
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Al Felts
Fred Decker	...	James
Bill Morris	...	Bass
Delmas Lawhorn	...	Conductor
William Dean	...	Broker
P. Michael Munsey	...	Broker
Thomas Hal Phillips	...	Boxcar Guard (as Hal Phillips)
Stephen C. Hall	...	Redneck Miner
Percy Fruit	...	Black Miner
Thomas Poore	...	Injured Black Miner
Tara Williams	...	Miner's Wife
Gerald Milnes	...	Fiddler
Mason Daring	...	Picker
Jim Costa	...	Mandolin Player
Phil Wiggins	...	Harmonica Player
James Earl Jones	...	Few Clothes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Damron	...	Fireman (uncredited)
Jason Jenkins	...	Extra (uncredited)
Scott A. Martin	...	Limping Miner (uncredited)
Ric Siler	...	Native Miner (uncredited)
Jesse Womack	...	Gun Thug (uncredited)

Directed by
John Sayles

Writing credits
John Sayles		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Balsam	....	executive producer
Ira Deutchman	....	associate producer
James Glenn Dudelson	....	associate producer
Ned Kendall	....	associate producer
Amir Jacob Malin	....	executive producer
Peggy Rajski	....	producer
Maggie Renzi	....	producer
Jerry Silva	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mason Daring

Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sonya Polonsky

Casting by
Barbara Shapiro

Production Design by
Nora Chavooshian

Art Direction by
Dan Bishop

Set Decoration by
Anamarie Michnevich
Leslie A. Pope		(as Leslie Pope)

Costume Design by
Cynthia Flynt

Makeup Department
David Halsey	....	hair consultant
David Halsey	....	makeup consultant
James Sarzotti	....	hair stylist
James Sarzotti	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sarah Green	....	assistant production manager
Diana Pokorny	....	unit manager
Peggy Rajski	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benita Allen	....	second assistant director
Matia Karrell	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Daniel Boxer	....	set dresser assistant
Roland Brooks	....	chargeman scenic artist
Jeff Butcher	....	property assistant
Jeff Butcher	....	property production assistant
Howard J. Calvert Jr.	....	art department troubleshooter
Jem Cohen	....	property assistant
James Dean	....	art department production assistant
Anthony Dunne	....	construction coordinator (as Tony Dunne)
Ann Edgeworth	....	property master
Daniel Fisher	....	set dressing production assistant
Chris Gibbin	....	art department production assistant
Nancy Gilmore	....	set dresser
Brent Haywood	....	set builder
Leigh Johnson	....	set decorator assistant
Leigh Kyle	....	head set dresser
Archie Lambert	....	art department production assistant
Bill Lehne	....	set builder (as William Lehne)
Pat McClinch	....	scenic artist
Bill McKinney	....	set dressing production assistant
Ken Nelson	....	set builder
Joel Ossenfort	....	scenic artist
Kim Parsons	....	art department production assistant
Nelle Stokes	....	set dressing production assistant (as Nell Stokes)

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Tom Fleischman	....	sound mixer: Sound One
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	assistant sound editor
Lisa Schnall	....	boom operator
Philip Stockton	....	sound editor (as Phil Stockton)
John Sutton	....	sound mixer
Christopher Weir	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Shirley Belwood	....	special effects
Russell Berg	....	special effects
Peter Kunz	....	special effects coordinator
Todd Wolfeil	....	special effects

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunt player
Len DeVirgilio	....	stunt player (as Lenny De Virgilio)
Edgard Mourino	....	stunt coordinator
Gianni Lazuli	....	stunt miner (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Apicella	....	video assist operator
Claudia Bailey	....	assistant camera: second unit
Arthur Blum	....	grip
Lynn Breschel	....	best boy
Robert Bruce	....	electrician
Stefan Czapsky	....	key grip
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator
Robert K. Feldmann	....	grip (as Robert Feldman)
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Sean Garrett	....	grip assistant
Erica Gelczis	....	grip assistant
Louisa Heyward	....	electrician
Claiborne Lashley	....	grip assistant (as Clai Lashley)
Luke Latino	....	grip assistant
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	first assistant camera (as Scott Sakamoto)
Debbie Sarjeant	....	second assistant camera
Lee Shapira	....	grip
Newton Thomas Sigel	....	director of photography: second unit (as Tom Sigel)

Casting Department
Eve Battaglia	....	casting assistant
Pam Flam	....	casting assistant
Julie Hutchinson	....	casting assistant
Avy Kaufman	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gabriele Campbell	....	wardrobe production assistant
Connie Lucas	....	wardrobe production assistant
Susan Lyall	....	assistant to costume designer
Holly Scarborough	....	wardrobe production assistant
Heidi Shulman	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
David Leonard	....	apprentice editor
Geraldine Peroni	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Leanne Ungar	....	music engineer
Leanne Ungar	....	music mixer

Transportation Department
E.W. 'Sonny' Adkins	....	driver (as Sonny Adkins)
Mark Moore	....	driver: generator
Roscoe Thomas	....	driver

Other crew
Beth Bernstein	....	office production assistant
Libby Bika	....	office production assistant
Buddy Brewer	....	set production assistant
Sandy Cox	....	craft service
Cilista Eberle	....	production office coordinator
Davide Ferrario	....	dialogue coach: Italian
Vincent Gratzer	....	intern (as Vince Gratzer)
Robert Grindrod	....	assistant auditor
Andrea Gustke	....	intern
David Hollander	....	legal counsel
Greg Jacobs	....	set production assistant
Sara Malossini	....	dialogue coach: Italian
Paul Marcus	....	coordinator: second unit
Paul Marcus	....	location manager
Pat McCarthy	....	assistant office coordinator
Ralph Renzi	....	set production assistant
John Sloss	....	legal counsel
Barbara-Ann Stein	....	auditor
John Tintori	....	script supervisor
Brian Wenk	....	set production assistant

Production Companies

• Cinecom Entertainment Group
• Film Gallery
• Goldcrest Films International
• Red Dog Films

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment (DVD)
• Cinecom Pictures
• Nea Kinisi Video (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Axis Video  video assist
• City of Beckley, West Virginia  special thanks (as City of Beckley, WV)
• EFX Unlimited  opticals
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society  special thanks
• J.G. Films  negative cutter
• M & Co.  titles (as M&Co. New York)
• People of the State of West Virginia, The  special thanks (as The People of West Virginia)
• Production Services Atlanta  equipment supplier
• Seafood Hut Catering  catering
• Sound One Corporation  sound mix (as Sound One)
• Steve Seifert Associates  publicity
• Town of Thurmond, West Virginia  special thanks (as Town of Thurmond, WV)
• Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, The  special thanks

Also Known As:

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-16 | Canada:14 (Ontario) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

New River Gorge, New River Gorge National River, West Virginia, USA

Company:

Cinecom Entertainment Group

Trivia:

In reality, the identity of the Baldwin-Felts spy in the community (who was indeed the character identified in the film) was not revealed until the trial which followed the battle.

Goofs:

Factual errors: 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.

Quotes:

[about the owner of the Baldwin-Felts agency:]
Sid Hatfield:I've met Mr. Felts. I wouldn't pee on him if his heart was on fire.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: Episode #3.2" (1998)

Great movie about my hometown!

If you are from Matewan, you know the shock of having this movie be about your hometown. I can't help but wonder if James Earl Jones was thinking "Why the hell are we making a movie about this place??" I think the population when I lived there (most of my life) was somewhere around 1200. Probably hasn't grown much. I still keep in contact with a few people from there. My dad owned a bar there called the Silver Dollar, and he worked in the mines at one time, as did my mother and grandfather. I've heard stories of how the real Matewan Massacre went, along with Bloody Mingo and all the rest, and from what I've heard from my family, this movie is pretty close to the truth. Matewan has always been a rough town, and even today fights are commonplace in this little one street town. It's pretty desolate, with no real business, no industry, and the coal mines are almost mined out. The nearest decent place is Williamson (WV) or Pikeville, Kentucky, a small college town. I miss home sometimes, but at least I can watch the movie and be reminded of home. One thing about it... it's an entertaining movie. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did, but then again, I'm biased.