You get the feeling of dirt, sweat and – despite the story's mythic intentions – the grim grey struggle of it all. Ferociously independent --most of his films are made with privately organized funds-- and working with what has become a repertory company --most of his actors return to work with him for less than they would get elsewhere-- he has never made an uninteresting film.

Blu-ray Review: MATEWAN Sticks Up For The Little Guy. Jones is a tower of dignity; Cooper is the epitome of quiet strength; and Oldham glows with the passion of a zealot, first for God, then for the union.

Matewan was only one battle in the Great Coal Field War in which the mining companies sent thousands of armed guards and strikebreakers (scabs) to West Virginia. Reception Critical response.

Head back to Dunder Mifflin and relive the funniest moments that happened before the opening credits of "

This film is about the miners in Mingo County, West Virginia, who worked in the coal mine just outside the town of Matewan (pronounced MAY-TWAN.) A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company. Danny overhears Hickey and Griggs talking about the scheme and is discovered and threatened by Hickey. Lively mentions that the men he has named died in the mines years ago, and muses that the death of a young boy will complicate things.

He provides five names, and is killed by Griggs anyway. It occurred on May 19, 1920 between local coal miners and the Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency . With Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, Mary McDonnell, Will Oldham. According to Wikipedia, "The Battle of Matewan (also known as the Matewan Massacre) was a shootout in the town of Matewan, West Virginia in Mingo County on May 19, 1920 between local miners and the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency".

The situation between the Baldwin–Felts men and Chief Hatfield reaches a boiling point with the arrival of reinforcements with orders to carry out the evictions. Danny overhears Hickey and Griggs talking about the scheme and is discovered and threatened by Hickey. And Sayles, struggling for authority from This article is about the 1987 movie based on events in The movie takes place in the 1920’s in the small mining town of Matewan, West Virginia. The Matewan Police Chief, Sid Hatfield, was shot on the Court House steps by company operatives after he was indicted for his role in the Matewan Massacre.

A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company. The next day, they enter the camp to demand that all food and clothing purchased at the Lively tries to drive a wedge between Kenehan and the miners by convincing a young widow, Bridey Mae Tolliver, to falsely accuse Kenehan of sexual assault, and he plants a letter which makes Kenehan appear to be the infiltrator, leading the miners to plot to kill Kenehan.

In the scene where the coal company executives are trying to bribe the Mayor and Sid Hatfield, the calendar behind the mayor reads September 1920.

The film tells the story of a Union organizer named Joe Kenehan. The film… UMWA organizer and dual-card Wobbly Joe Kenehan determines to bring the local, Black, and Italian groups together.

The next day, two Baldwin–Felts men, Hickey and Griggs, show up in town and take up residence at the Radnor The Baldwin–Felts men then turn their attention on the strikers' camp outside town, where the miners and their families are living in tents.

Black and Italian miners, brought in by the company to break the strike, are caught between the two forces.

Read full review Among the memorable characters is Joe Kenehan (Chris Cooper), a young union organizer who comes to Matewan to buck the bosses. A labor union organizer comes to an embattled mining community brutally and violently dominated and harassed by the mining company. To win, he must unite all factions--whites, Italians, & blacks.