Matewan (1987)

August 28, 1987 (US) • Drama, History • 132m

Overview

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.

Director

John Sayles

Writer

John Sayles

Top Billed

Chris Cooper

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

Where to watch

Check streaming options on TMDB

Top Billed Cast

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

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)

James Kizer

Tolbert

Ronnie Stapleton

Stennis

Davide Ferrario

Gianni

Frank Payne Jr.

Old Miner

John Sayles

Hardshell Preacher

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

Jim Costa

Mandolin Player

Phil Wiggins

Harmonica Player

Ida Williams

Mrs. Knightes

Crew

John Sayles

Director

Barbara Shapiro

Casting

Peggy Rajski

Production Manager

Leigh Johnson

Assistant Set Decoration

Sarah Green

Assistant Production Manager

Jerry Silva

Executive Producer

Matia Karrell

First Assistant Director

Benita Allen

Second Assistant Director

Roland Brooks

Charge Scenic Artist

Bill Lehne

Leadman

Diana Pokorny

Unit Manager

Steve Apicella

Video Assist Operator

Len DeVirgilio

Stunts

Pat McClinch

Scenic Artist

James Sarzotti

Makeup & Hair

Marissa Littlefield

Assistant Sound Editor

Edgard Mourino

Stunt Coordinator

Will Chapman

Set Production Assistant

Leigh Kyle

Lead Set Dresser

Jem Cohen

Assistant Property Master

Bob Bailey

Location Assistant

Robert Bruce

Electrician

Susan Lyall

Assistant Costume Designer

Debbie Sarjeant

Second Assistant Camera

John Tintori

Script Supervisor

Heidi Shulman

Wardrobe Supervisor

David Leonard

Editorial Production Assistant

Ira Deutchman

Associate Producer

Anamarie Michnevich

Set Decoration

Ann Edgeworth

Property Master

Julie Hutchinson

Casting Assistant

Robert Grindrod

Casting Associate

Philip Stockton

Sound Editor

Christopher Weir

Assistant Sound Editor

Danny Aiello III

Stunts

James Glenn Dudelson

Associate Producer

Nancy Gilmore

Set Dresser

Joel Ossenfort

Scenic Artist

John Sayles

Writer

Sean Fogel

Assistant Grip

David Halsey

Makeup & Hair Assistant

Eve Battaglia

Casting Assistant

Cilista Eberle

Production Office Coordinator

Mark Balsam

Executive Producer

Bob Marshak

Still Photographer

Pam Flam

Casting Assistant

Shirley Belwood

Special Effects

Leslie A. Pope

Set Decoration

P. Scott Sakamoto

First Assistant Camera

Geraldine Peroni

Assistant Editor

Paul Marcus

Location Manager

Arthur Blum

Grip

Robert K. Feldmann

Grip

John Sutton

Sound Mixer

Buddy Brewer

Set Production Assistant

Vincent Gratzer

Wardrobe Intern

Tom Fleischman

Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Anthony Dunne

Construction Coordinator

Erica Gelczis

Assistant Grip

Morris Flam

Gaffer

Pat McCarthy

Assistant Production Coordinator

Archie Lambert

Art Department Production Assistant

Barbara-Ann Stein

Casting Consultant

Bruce Pross

Assistant Sound Editor

Louisa Heyward

Electrician

Howard J. Calvert Jr.

Art Department Manager

Daniel Fisher

Set Dressing Production Assistant

Ned Kandel

Associate Producer

Daniel Boxer

Assistant Set Dresser

Ken Nelson

Leadman

Lee Shapira

Grip

Lorna Scott

Wardrobe Assistant

Peter Kunz

Special Effects Coordinator

Nancy Kim Parsons

Art Department Production Assistant

Andrea Gustke

Wardrobe Intern

Stefan Czapsky

Key Grip

Lisa Schnall

Boom Operator

Avy Kaufman

Additional Casting

Newton Thomas Sigel

Second Unit Director of Photography

David Smith

Set Dressing Production Assistant

Brent Haywood

Leadman

John Robinson

Carpenter

Lynn Breschel

Best Boy Electric

Mitch Dubin

Camera Operator

Libby Bika

Production Assistant

Holly Scarborough

Wardrobe Intern

Davide Ferrario

Dialogue Coach

Amir Jacob Malin

Executive Producer

Claiborne Lashley

Assistant Grip

Luke Latino

Assistant Grip

Paul Marcus

Second Unit Location Manager

Jeff Butcher

Art Department Assistant

Chris Gibbin

Art Department Production Assistant

Ralph Renzi

Set Production Assistant

David Hollander

Legal Services

Sandy Cox

Craft Service

Beth Bernstein

Production Assistant

Gabriele Campbell

Wardrobe Intern

Connie Lucas

Wardrobe Intern

Roscoe Thomas

Driver

Bill McKinney

Set Dressing Production Assistant

Kevin Ball

Set Production Assistant

Nelle Stokes

Set Dressing Production Assistant

Brian Wenk

Set Production Assistant

Sonny Adkins

Driver

Mark Moore

Driver

John Sloss

Legal Services

Claudia Bailey

Additional Camera

Sara Malossini

Dialogue Coach

Russell Berg

Special Effects

Todd Wolfeil

Special Effects

Almer Shuttle

Art Department Production Assistant

Rachel Bower

Set Production Assistant

Gary Rosenblatt

Publicist

James Dean

Art Department Production Assistant

Haskell Wexler

Director of Photography

Gregory Jacobs

Set Production Assistant

Skip Lievsay

Supervising Sound Editor

Dan Bishop

Art Direction

Nora Chavooshian

Production Design

Sonya Polonsky

Editor

Cynthia Flynt

Costume Designer

Mason Daring

Original Music Composer

Peggy Rajski

Producer

Maggie Renzi

Producer

Reviews

No reviews available.

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Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$4,000,000

Revenue

$1,680,358

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Matewan (1987)

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew