Matewan (1987)
It takes more than guns to kill a man.
135 min
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.
- Release date
- August 28, 1987
- Country of origin
- United States
- Budget
- $4,000,000
- Box office
- $1,680,358
Trailer
Cast
- Chris Cooper as Joe Kenehan
- James Earl Jones as Few Clothes Johnson
- Mary McDonnell as Elma Radnor
- Will Oldham as Danny Radnor
- David Strathairn as Sid Hatfield
- Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell
- Kevin Tighe as Bill Hickey
- Gordon Clapp as Tom Griggs
- Bob Gunton as C.E. Lively
- Jace Alexander as Hillard Elkins
Crew
- John Sayles · Director
- John Sayles · Writer
- Peggy Rajski · Producer
- Maggie Renzi · Producer
- Mason Daring · Composer
- Haskell Wexler · Cinematographer
- Sonya Polonsky · Editor
- Barbara Shapiro · Casting director
- Nora Chavooshian · Production designer