Matewan (1987)

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 | Labor | 1920s | 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
Jo Henderson	...	Mrs. Elkins
Maggie Renzi	...	Rosaria
Tom Wright	...	Tom
Michael B. Preston	...	Ellix
Tom Carlin	...	Turley
Jenni Cline	...	Luann
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
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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Thomas A. Carlin	...	Turley
Michael Mantell	...	Doolin (as Michael A. Mantel)
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 (in alphabetical order)
John Sayles		writer

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

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

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
Peggy Rajski	....	production manager

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

Art Department
Roland Brooks	....	chargeman scenic artist
Jeff Butcher	....	property assistant
Anthony Dunne	....	construction coordinator
Ann Edgeworth	....	property master
Daniel Fisher	....	art department production assistant
Chris Gibbin	....	art department production assistant
Pat McClinch	....	scenic artist
Joel Ossenfort	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Lisa Schnall	....	boom operator
Philip Stockton	....	sound editor
John Sutton	....	sound mixer

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

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunts
Len DeVirgilio	....	stunts
Edgard Mourino	....	stunt coordinator
Gianni Lazuli	....	stunt miner (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Apicella	....	video assist operator
Claudia Bailey	....	assistant camera: second unit
Lynn Breschel	....	best boy
Stefan Czapsky	....	key grip
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator
Robert K. Feldmann	....	grip
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	first assistant camera
Debbie Sarjeant	....	second assistant camera (as Deborah Sarjeant)
Lee Shapira	....	grip
Newton Thomas Sigel	....	director of photography: second unit

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

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heidi Shulman	....	wardrobe supervisor

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

Other crew
Davide Ferrario	....	dialog coach: Italian
Sara Malossini	....	dialog coach: Italian
Paul Marcus	....	location manager
Paul Marcus	....	second unit coordinator
John Tintori	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

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

Distributors

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

Other Companies

• Axis Video  video assist
• EFX Unlimited  opticals
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• M & Co.  titles
• Production Services Atlanta  equipment supplier
• Seafood Hut Catering  catering
• Sound One Corporation  sound mixing
• Steve Seifert Associates  publicity

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:

The movie was actually filmed in a town in central West Virginia known as Thurmond. This town is located on the New River. It is about 100 miles from the real city of Matewan.

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:

FIRE IN THE HOLE

As important move about the American spirit as there is

This movie was obviously made as a labor of love, by someone whose ideals are deeply American. Director Sayles masterfully documents the nuances of the ageless conflict between those that would control others for profit and those that would not let themselves be controlled and thereby captures the essence of a battle that still rages between the American ideals of freedom and free enterprise.

Historically, the film documents a victory (some say massacre) by the miners over the power brokers and thugs of the early 20th century coal mining industry. Taken in the overall context of the history of Appalachian coal mining, however, what it truly documents is one battle in a war that was eventually lost when the government once again came down on the side of commerce as opposed to human dignity at the battle of Blair Mountain.

Fortunately for us, Mr. Sayles seems all too keenly aware of the tremendously important under-currents of this historical event. Rather than merely documenting the conflict and violence of this historic event, he artfully imbues the story with human elements of betrayal, regret, loss, resolve, and ultimately, sacrifice in the name of what is right and just. He reminds us that righteousness often comes with a price and that the real war is never won or lost but rages on forever, claiming the salvation and damnation of souls in it's wake.

This film is a masterpiece and deserves its due. It represents everything good about film-making and should hold a special place in the hearts of all free Americans aspiring to the ideals expressed in our constitution.