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.
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Cast
49 people
Chris Cooper
Joe Kenehan
Known for
The Bourne Identity
11.22.63
James Earl Jones
'Few Clothes' Johnson
Known for
Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Lion King
Mary McDonnell
Elma Radnor
Known for
Battlestar Galactica
Dances with Wolves
Will Oldham
Danny Radnor
Known for
Old Joy
Wendy and Lucy
David Strathairn
Police Chief Sid Hatfield
Known for
The Bourne Ultimatum
Nomadland
Ken Jenkins
Sephus Purcell
Known for
Scrubs
The Stand
Kevin Tighe
Bill Hickey
Known for
Rose Red
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Gordon Clapp
Tom Griggs
Known for
NYPD Blue
Mare of Easttown
Bob Gunton
C.E. Lively
Known for
The Shawshank Redemption
Marvel's Daredevil
Jace Alexander
Hilllard Elkins
Known for
Love and a .45
Eight Men Out
Joe Grifasi
Fausto
Known for
Batman Forever
13 Going on 30
Nancy Mette
Bridey Mae Tolliver
Known for
Girlfriends
Passion Fish
John Sayles Director · Mason Daring Composer Haskell Wexler Cinematographer
Worldwide gross $1.7M · Budget $4M · United States release August 28, 1987
Box office
Budget
$4,000,000
Worldwide gross
$1,680,358
Gross vs. budget
0.4×
Production
Cinecom Entertainment Group
Production
Film Gallery
Production
Goldcrest Films International
Production
Red Dog Films
Production
Winwood Productions
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · Italian
Release dates
France · May 11, 1987
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
United States · August 28, 1987
Theatrical
Italy
October 21, 1988 · Theatrical
Japan
August 13, 1988 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
April 14, 1989 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.