Matewan (1987)

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.

Key facts

Released:
1987-08-28
Runtime:
132 min
Genres:
Drama, History
Director:
John Sayles
Top cast:
Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham, David Strathairn, Ken Jenkins
Original language:
EN
TMDB rating:
7.4/10 from 133 votes
Bynge Score:
7.1/10

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