Matewan (1987)
2h 12m
Running Time
August 28, 1987Release Date
Plot.
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.
Where to Watch.
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Cast & Crew.
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
Kevin Tighe
Bill Hickey
Gordon Clapp
Tom Griggs
Bob Gunton
C.E. Lively
Jace Alexander
Hilllard Elkins
Joe Grifasi
Fausto
Nancy Mette
Bridey Mae Tolliver
Jo Henderson
Mrs. Elkins
Josh Mostel
Mayor Cabell Testerman
Gary McCleery
Ludie
Maggie Renzi
Rosaria / Producer
Tom Wright
Tom
Michael B. Preston
Ellix (as Michael Preston)
Thomas A. Carlin
Turley
Jenni Cline
Luann
Michael Mantell
Doolin
J.K. Kent Lilly
Pappy's Voice (voice)
Ida Williams
Mrs. Knightes
James Kizer
Tolbert
Ronnie Stapleton
Stennis
Davide Ferrario
Gianni / Dialogue Coach
Frank Payne Jr.
Old Miner
John Sayles
Hardshell Preacher / Director / Writer
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
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 / Original Music Composer
Jim Costa
Mandolin Player
Phil Wiggins
Harmonica Player
James Glenn Dudelson
Associate Producer
Benita Allen
Second Assistant Director
Nancy Gilmore
Set Dresser
Amir Jacob Malin
Executive Producer
Jem Cohen
Assistant Property Master
Mark Balsam
Executive Producer
P. Scott Sakamoto
First Assistant Camera
Steve Apicella
Video Assist Operator
Julie Hutchinson
Casting Assistant
Philip Stockton
Sound Editor
Christopher Weir
Assistant Sound Editor
Sean Garrett Fogel
Assistant Grip
Eve Battaglia
Casting Assistant
Cilista Eberle
Production Office Coordinator
Brent Haywood
Leadman
Lynn Breschel
Best Boy Electric
Louisa Heyward
Electrician
James Sarzotti
Makeup & Hair
Avy Kaufman
Additional Casting
Ned Kandel
Associate Producer
Daniel Boxer
Assistant Set Dresser
Lee Shapira
Grip
Marissa Littlefield
Assistant Sound Editor
Peter Kunz
Special Effects Coordinator
Joel Ossenfort
Scenic Artist
Luke Latino
Assistant Grip
David Leonard
Editorial Production Assistant
Ken Nelson
Leadman
Bob Bailey
Location Assistant
Leslie A. Pope
Set Decoration
Ann Edgeworth
Property Master
Pat McClinch
Scenic Artist
Morris Flam
Gaffer
Debbie Sarjeant
Second Assistant Camera
John Tintori
Script Supervisor
Susan Lyall
Assistant Costume Designer
Robert Grindrod
Casting Associate
Danny Aiello III
Stunts
Anthony Dunne
Construction Coordinator
John Robinson
Carpenter
Mitch Dubin
Camera Operator
Lorna Scott
Wardrobe Assistant
Shirley Belwood
Special Effects
Bob Marshak
Still Photographer
Len DeVirgilio
Stunts
Diana Pokorny
Unit Manager
Stefan Czapsky
Key Grip
Lisa Schnall
Boom Operator
Bruce Pross
Assistant Sound Editor
Leigh Kyle
Lead Set Dresser
Paul Marcus
Location Manager / Second Unit Location Manager
Robert K. Feldmann
Grip
Erica Gelczis
Assistant Grip
Pam Flam
Casting Assistant
Pat McCarthy
Assistant Production Coordinator
Jerry Silva
Executive Producer
John Sutton
Sound Mixer
Barbara-Ann Stein
Casting Consultant
Arthur Blum
Grip
Barbara Shapiro
Casting
Sarah Green
Assistant Production Manager
Leigh Johnson
Assistant Set Decoration
Roland Brooks
Charge Scenic Artist
Claiborne Lashley
Assistant Grip
David Halsey
Makeup & Hair Assistant
Geraldine Peroni
Assistant Editor
Edgard Mourino
Stunt Coordinator
Ira Deutchman
Associate Producer
Peggy Rajski
Production Manager / Producer
Matia Karrell
First Assistant Director
Anamarie Michnevich
Set Decoration
Robert Bruce
Electrician
Bill Lehne
Leadman
Heidi Shulman
Wardrobe Supervisor
Holly Scarborough
Wardrobe Intern
Sara Malossini
Dialogue Coach
Daniel Fisher
Set Dressing Production Assistant
Nelle Stokes
Set Dressing Production Assistant
Archie Lambert
Art Department Production Assistant
Buddy Brewer
Set Production Assistant
Jeff Butcher
Art Department Assistant
Connie Lucas
Wardrobe Intern
Sandy Cox
Craft Service
Nancy Kim Parsons
Art Department Production Assistant
Beth Bernstein
Production Assistant
Ralph Renzi
Set Production Assistant
David Hollander
Legal Services
Claudia Bailey
Additional Camera
Roscoe Thomas
Driver
Bill McKinney
Set Dressing Production Assistant
Chris Gibbin
Art Department Production Assistant
Kevin Ball
Set Production Assistant
Sonny Adkins
Driver
Vincent Gratzer
Wardrobe Intern
Todd Wolfeil
Special Effects
Howard J. Calvert Jr.
Art Department Manager
Rachel Bower
Set Production Assistant
David Smith
Set Dressing Production Assistant
Gary Rosenblatt
Publicist
Gabriele Campbell
Wardrobe Intern
Tom Fleischman
Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Mark Moore
Driver
John Sloss
Legal Services
Will Chapman
Set Production Assistant
Andrea Gustke
Wardrobe Intern
Russell Berg
Special Effects
Almer Shuttle
Art Department Production Assistant
Libby Bika
Production Assistant
Newton Thomas Sigel
Second Unit Director of Photography
Brian Wenk
Set Production Assistant
James Dean
Art Department Production Assistant
Media.
Details.
Release DateAugust 28, 1987
StatusReleased
Running Time2h 12m
Content RatingPG-13
Budget$4,000,000
Box Office$1,680,358
Genres
Last updated:
This Movie Is About.
west virginia
based on a true story
racism
preacher
labor union
coal mining
1920s
miners strike
labor organizer
worker's rights
traitor
gun battle
double cross
workers union
coal miner
mining comany
slit throat
union struggle
company town
authoritarian company
italian diaspora
gun death
hired goons
Wiki.
Matewan () is a 1987 American independent drama film written and directed by John Sayles, and starring Chris Cooper (in his film debut), James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell and Will Oldham, with David Strathairn, Kevin Tighe and Gordon Clapp in supporting roles. The film dramatizes the events of the Battle of Matewan, a coal miners' strike in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia.
Matewan was a critical success but a box office flop, grossing under $2 million on an estimated $4 million budget. The film received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, and received a Criterion Collection re-release in 2019.
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