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Harlan County U.S.A. (1977)

Harlan County U.S.A. (1977)

Documentary

Which Side Are You On?

Release Date: 1977, January 23
Directors: Barbara Kopple
Countries: United States of America
Production: Cabin Creek Films
Cast: Phil Sparks, Norman Yarborough, Houston Elmore, Bessie Lou Cornett Parker, Sudie Crusenberry, Mary Lou Fergerson, Basil Collins, Florence Reece, Lois Scott

Overview:

This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Eastover's refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with New York Women in Film & Television in 2004.

Keywords:

woman director mining working class labor union kentucky union strike miners strike labor united mine workers black lung