Tonight at a glance
- Runtime
- 132 min
- Age rating
- PG-13
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
The story
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.
- traitor
- based on true story
- west virginia
- gun battle
- racism
- preacher
- double cross
- labor organizer
- labor union
- coal mining
The look
A few frames, chosen rather than collected.
The bill
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
- Directed
- John Sayles
- Written
- John Sayles
Production
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 · 138 ratings
- Studio
- Cinecom Entertainment Group, Film Gallery, Goldcrest, Red Dog Films, Winwood Productions
If this stayed with you
Then these are the nearest things Cue holds — chosen for what they share with it, not for what happens to be popular.
