Matewan (1987)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

John Sayles

Writer:

John Sayles (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 1987 (USA)

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 | 1920s | Coal Miner | Labor Union

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Joe Kenehan
James Earl Jones	...	'Few Clothes' Johnson
Mary McDonnell	...	Elma Radnor
Will Oldham	...	Danny Radnor
David Strathairn	...	Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Ken Jenkins	...	Sephus Purcell
Gordon Clapp	...	Griggs
Kevin Tighe	...	Hickey
John Sayles	...	Hardshell Preacher
Bob Gunton	...	C.E. Lively
Josh Mostel	...	Mayor Cabell Testerman
Nancy Mette	...	Bridey Mae
Jace Alexander	...	Hillard Elkins
Joe Grifasi	...	Fausto
Gary McCleery	...	Ludie

Runtime:

135 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Cinecom Entertainment Group

Trivia:

Thurmond was the site of one of the five offices of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency. Two of the men killed in Matewan that day were the brothers of agency owner, Thomas Felts. In retaliation, Felts had the Matewan police chief, Sid Hatfield, killed when he was tried in Welch, WV. He walked up the steps to the courthouse and met five detectives waiting for him at the top. He was filled full of bullets and then detective Hugh Lucas turned and emptied a gun into the courthouse wall as though Hatfield had shot at them, then placed the gun in his hand after detective Charley Lively had shot him behind the ear to make sure he was dead.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The steam locomotive used in "Matewan" was ex-New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway ("Nickel Plate Road") #765. It was a modern steam locomotive built in the 1940's and thus would not have existed at the time of the events depicted in "Matewan."

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.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

HILLS OF GALILEE

Starts out slow, but builds up into something great

When this film started out, I honestly thought it would end up boring me to death. But after about 20 minutes, I began to start really enjoying it. The whole idea of a town comming together to battle evil is certainly something special. Great performances from a great a cast, especially Chris Cooper, and James Earl Jones. This is an intense and gripping drama that will remind you of "The Grapes Of Wrath". A truly great surprise. 8.5/10.