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Matewan (1987)

Matewan (1987)

Drama History

It takes more than guns to kill a man.

Release Date: 1987, August 28
Directors: John Sayles
Countries: United States of America
Production: Cinecom Entertainment Group, Film Gallery, Goldcrest, Red Dog Films, Winwood Productions
Cast: David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe, Bob Gunton, James Earl Jones, Chris Cooper, Mary McDonnell, Frank Hoyt Taylor, Josh Mostel, Michael Mantell, Tom Wright, Joe Grifasi, Ken Jenkins

Overview:

Filmed in the coal country of West Virginia, "Matewan" celebrates labor organizing in the context of a 1920s work stoppage. Union organizer, Joe Kenehan, a scab named "Few Clothes" Johnson and a sympathetic mayor and police chief heroically fight the power represented by a coal company and Matewan's vested interests so that justice and workers' rights need not take a back seat to squalid working conditions, exploitation and the bottom line.

Keywords:

based on true story double cross racism traitor gun battle gun death 1920s west virginia labor union preacher miners strike union struggle worker's rights coal mining mining company workers union coal miner slit throat italian diaspora labor organizer company town authoritarian company hired goons