traitor,based on true story,west virginia,gun battle,racism,preacher,double cross,labor organizer,labor union,coal mining,workers union,1920s,coal miner,worker's rights,miners strike,mining company,slit throat,union struggle,company town,authoritarian company,italian diaspora,gun death,hired goons

Matewan (1987)

Poster for 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.

Cast & Crew

Director
John Sayles
  • Profile picture of Chris Cooper
    Joe Kenehan Chris Cooper
  • Profile picture of James Earl Jones
    'Few Clothes' Johnson James Earl Jones
  • Profile picture of Mary McDonnell
    Elma Radnor Mary McDonnell
  • Profile picture of Will Oldham
    Danny Radnor Will Oldham
  • Profile picture of David Strathairn
    Police Chief Sid Hatfield David Strathairn
  • Profile picture of Ken Jenkins
    Sephus Purcell Ken Jenkins
  • Profile picture of Kevin Tighe
    Bill Hickey Kevin Tighe
  • Profile picture of Gordon Clapp
    Tom Griggs Gordon Clapp

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Keywords

  • traitor
  • based on true story
  • west virginia
  • gun battle
  • racism
  • preacher
  • double cross
  • labor organizer
  • labor union
  • coal mining
  • workers union
  • 1920s
  • coal miner
  • worker's rights
  • miners strike
  • mining company
  • slit throat
  • union struggle
  • company town
  • authoritarian company
  • italian diaspora
  • gun death
  • hired goons