Matewan (1987)

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.

Released Aug. 28, 1987 132 min 13+

Genres: Drama, History

Keywords: tmdb.west-virginia, tmdb.racism, tmdb.preacher, tmdb.labor-union, tmdb.coal-mining, tmdb.1920s, imdb.company-town + 107 more, imdb.labor-dispute, imdb.labor-activist, imdb.holster, imdb.double-gun-holster, imdb.shoulder-holster, imdb.ore-cart, imdb.monopoly, imdb.written-and-directed-by-cast-member, imdb.one-word-title, imdb.town-name-in-title, tmdb.based-on-true-story, tmdb.labor-organizer, tmdb.worker-s-rights, tmdb.miners-strike, imdb.1920s, imdb.labor-union, imdb.west-virginia, imdb.coal-mining, imdb.social-commentary, imdb.class-struggle, imdb.mining-company, imdb.coal-miner, imdb.foreman, imdb.martial-law, imdb.coal-town, mdblist.fresh, mdblist.ext.2k-blu-ray, imdb.throat-slit, mdblist.has-trailer, imdb.ensemble-cast, imdb.national-film-registry, awards.oscar-nominated, imdb.labor-relations, imdb.labor-movement, imdb.world-war-one-veteran, imdb.small-town, imdb.shootout, imdb.sermon, imdb.police-chief, imdb.labor-strike, imdb.eviction, imdb.coal-mine, imdb.boy-minister, imdb.racism, imdb.appalachia, imdb.based-on-true-story, imdb.independent-film, imdb.forced-confession, imdb.starvation, imdb.private-detective, imdb.narration, imdb.coal-wars, imdb.hired-gun, imdb.medal, imdb.xenophobia, imdb.widow, imdb.two-gun-holster, imdb.told-in-flashback, imdb.baptist-church, imdb.funeral, imdb.mandolin, imdb.baptist, imdb.forest, imdb.cemetery, imdb.tent, imdb.hunting, imdb.singing, imdb.revolver, imdb.playing-catch, imdb.train, imdb.sabotage, imdb.rape-accusation, imdb.train-station, imdb.racial-slur, imdb.murder, imdb.mother-son-relationship, imdb.mayor, imdb.loss-of-son, imdb.italian-american, imdb.immigrant, imdb.fire, imdb.eavesdropping, imdb.drugstore, imdb.clothesline, imdb.boarding-house, imdb.betrayal, imdb.ambush, imdb.mining-camp, imdb.title-spoken-by-character, tmdb.traitor, tmdb.gun-battle, tmdb.double-cross, tmdb.workers-union, tmdb.coal-miner, tmdb.mining-company, tmdb.slit-throat, tmdb.union-struggle, tmdb.company-town, tmdb.authoritarian-company, tmdb.italian-diaspora, tmdb.gun-death, tmdb.hired-goons, imdb.death-of-friend, aspectratio.1-85-1, imdb.political-drama, imdb.period-drama, awards.national-film-preservation-board-winner