A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community in 1920 West Virginia, brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.
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Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Chris Cooper | ... |
Joe Kenehan
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| Mary McDonnell | ... |
Elma Radnor
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| Will Oldham | ... |
Danny Radnor
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| David Strathairn | ... |
Sid Hatfield
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| Ken Jenkins | ... |
Sephus Purcell
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| Kevin Tighe | ... |
Bill Hickey
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| Gordon Clapp | ... |
Tom 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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| Tom Wright | ... |
Tom
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Michael B. Preston | ... |
Ellix
(as Michael Preston)
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Thomas A. Carlin | ... |
Turley
(as Tom Carlin)
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Jenni Cline | ... |
Luann
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| Michael Mantell | ... |
Doolin
(as Michael A. Mantel)
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J.K. Kent Lilly | ... |
Pappy's Voice (voice)
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Ida Williams | ... |
Mrs. Knightes
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James Kizer | ... |
Tolbert
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Ronnie Stapleton | ... |
Stennis
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Davide Ferrario | ... |
Gianni
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Frank Payne Jr. | ... |
Old Miner
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| John Sayles | ... |
Hardshell Preacher
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Hazel Dickens | ... |
Singer
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Charles Haywood | ... |
Sheb
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Neale Clark | ... |
Isaac
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Mitch Scott | ... |
Mister
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Hazel Pearl | ... |
Missus
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Michael Frasher | ... |
Lee Felts
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Frank Hoyt Taylor | ... |
Al Felts
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Fred Decker | ... |
James
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Bill Morris | ... |
Bass
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Delmas Lawhorn | ... |
Conductor
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William Dean | ... |
Broker
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P. Michael Munsey | ... |
Broker
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Thomas Hal Phillips | ... |
Boxcar Guard
(as Hal Phillips)
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Stephen C. Hall | ... |
Redneck Miner
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Percy Fruit | ... |
Black Miner
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Thomas Poore | ... |
Injured Black Miner
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Tara Williams | ... |
Miner's Wife
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Gerald Milnes | ... |
Fiddler
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Mason Daring | ... |
Picker
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Jim Costa | ... |
Mandolin Player
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Phil Wiggins | ... |
Harmonica Player
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| James Earl Jones | ... |
Few Clothes Johnson
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jim Damron | ... |
Fireman (uncredited)
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Jason Jenkins | ... |
Extra (uncredited)
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| Scott A. Martin | ... |
Limping Miner (uncredited)
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Bill Richardson | ... |
Coal Miner (uncredited)
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Ric Siler | ... |
Native Miner (uncredited)
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Jesse Womack | ... |
Gun Thug (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Sayles | ||
Written by
| 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 |
Music by
| Mason Daring | ||
Cinematography by
| Haskell Wexler | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Sonya Polonsky | ||
Editorial Department
| David Leonard | ... | apprentice editor |
| Geraldine Peroni | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Barbara Shapiro | ||
Production Design by
| Nora Chavooshian | ||
Art Direction by
| Dan Bishop | ||
Set Decoration by
| Anamarie Michnevich | ||
| Leslie Pope | ||
Costume Design by
| Cynthia Flynt | ||
Makeup Department
| David Halsey | ... | hair consultant / makeup consultant |
| James Sarzotti | ... | hair stylist / 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 / 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 |
| Michael Ruschak | ... | adr mixer |
| 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 Schulman | ... | wardrobe supervisor (as Heidi Shulman) |
Location Management
| Paul Marcus | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Leanne Ungar | ... | music engineer / music mixer |
Script and Continuity Department
| John Tintori | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| E.W. 'Sonny' Adkins | ... | driver (as Sonny Adkins) |
| Mark Moore | ... | driver: generator |
| Roscoe Thomas | ... | driver |
Additional 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 |
| Pat McCarthy | ... | assistant office coordinator |
| Ralph Renzi | ... | set production assistant |
| John Sloss | ... | legal counsel |
| Barbara-Ann Stein | ... | auditor |
| Brian Wenk | ... | set production assistant |
| Todd Hanson | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Vincent R. Nebrida | ... | marketing coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Cinecom Pictures (1987) (United States) (theatrical)
- New Vision Films (1988) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Parco Co. Ltd. (1988) (Japan) (theatrical)
- SF Studio (1988) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Image Entertainment (1988) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- Lorimar Home Video (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (1990) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Virgin Vision (1988) (Australia) (video)
- Enterprise Pictures Limited (1989) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Nea Kinisi Video (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
- Evergreen Entertainment (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Malo Video (1997) (Canada) (VHS)
- October Films (1997) (United States)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (VHS)
- Artisan Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Seville Pictures (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Collection (2019) (United States) (DVD)
- Vídeo Arte (Brazil) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Axis Video (video assist)
- City of Beckley, West Virginia (special thanks)
- EFX Unlimited (opticals)
- Film Finances (completion bond)
- Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society (special thanks)
- J.G. Films (negative cutter)
- M & Co. (titles)
- Production Services Atlanta (equipment supplier)
- Seafood Hut Catering (catering)
- Sound One Corporation (sound mix)
- Steve Seifert Associates (publicity)
- The People of the State of West Virginia (special thanks)
- The Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia (special thanks)
- Town of Thurmond, West Virginia (special thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | It takes more than guns to kill a man See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Box Office
| Budget | $4,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The miners' union was broken by 1921, after President Warren G. Harding put the entire state of West Virginia under martial law and sent the army to the coalfields to defend the companies against their employees. By then, hundreds of miners had been killed, thousands arrested and jailed. It was not until 1935, under Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, that union organizing was legally protected in the United States. See more » |
| Goofs | Look for the sheriff to remove a gun from someone's hand (by holding the gun by the barrel) after it's been fired four or five times. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll/Like Father Like Son/Baby Boom/Big Shots/Matewan (1987). See more » |
| Soundtracks | "Soundtrack was available on LP, Columbia, 37.089 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 » |