Matewan
It takes more than guns to kill a man.
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.
Crew and Cast
John SaylesDirector · Hardshell Preacher
Chris CooperJoe Kenehan
James Earl Jones'Few Clothes' Johnson
Mary McDonnellElma Radnor
Will OldhamDanny Radnor
David StrathairnPolice Chief Sid Hatfield
Ken JenkinsSephus Purcell
Kevin TigheBill Hickey
Gordon ClappTom Griggs
Bob GuntonC.E. Lively
Jace AlexanderHilllard Elkins
Joe GrifasiFausto
Nancy MetteBridey Mae TolliverJo HendersonMrs. Elkins
Josh MostelMayor Cabell Testerman
Gary McCleeryLudie
Maggie RenziRosaria
Tom WrightTomMichael B. PrestonEllix (as Michael Preston)
Thomas A. CarlinTurley
Jenni ClineLuann
Michael MantellDoolinJ.K. Kent LillyPappy's Voice (voice)
James KizerTolbert
Ronnie StapletonStennis
Davide FerrarioGianniFrank Payne Jr.Old Miner
Hazel DickensSingerCharles HaywoodSheb
Neale ClarkIsaac
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Info
- Status
- Released
- Released
- 28 August 1987
- Runtime
- 2h 12m
- Rating
- PG-13
- TMDB score
- 7.4 / 10 (146 votes)
Production
- Director
- John Sayles
- Writers
- John Sayles
- Studios
- Cinecom Entertainment Group, Film Gallery, Goldcrest Films International
- Countries
- United States of America
Box Office
- Budget
- $4.0M
- Revenue
- $1.7M
- Profit
- $2.3M loss
- Return
- 0.4×
Languages
- Original
- English
- Spoken
- English, Italian