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Film · TMDB
7.4Filmed 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.
Released: 1987-08-28132 minDir: John SaylesDrama, HistoryBudget: $4.0MBox office: $1.7M
▶ Watch trailerStream on: MGM Plus Amazon Channel
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 Police Chief Sid Hatfield
- Ken Jenkins as Sephus Purcell
Themes
- traitor
- based on true story
- west virginia
- gun battle
- racism
- preacher
- double cross
- labor organizer
- labor union
- coal mining
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- film
- Genre
- drama film
- Country of origin
- United States
- Original language
- English language
- Director
- John Sayles
- Screenwriter
- John Sayles
- Composer
- Mason Daring
- Cinematographer
- Haskell Wexler
- Narrative location
- Appalachian Mountains
- Duration
- 132
- FilmAffinity ID
- 646512
- Distribution format
- video on demand
Show 7 more facts
- publication date
- 1987-08-28
- title
- Matewan
- nominated for
- Academy Award for Best Cinematography
- distributed by
- Netflix
- different from
- Matewan
- review score
- 8.2/10
- capital cost
- 4000000
Sources (12)
via Wikidata · CC0