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Amazon.com Essential Video
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Matewan- A true story,
By longrangescout (Bristol, Tn United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Matewan (VHS Tape)
I have talked, in the far past, to people who lived thru this experience. Now they have all past away, but this movie keeps their story alive. Matewan is a big part of our heritage even if it is not well known.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful movie-very realistic,
By graffixalley@hotmail.com (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Matewan (VHS Tape)
My mother grew up near the real-life town of Matewan. Her father and his brothers were instrumental in starting the union in that area. When the movie first came out, I spoke with an uncle who was actually a child when the battle took place and he related the stories to me even without seeing the movie. The only real character in the movie was the constable, Sid Hatfield. The others, according to an interview with Mr. Sayles, were composites of various characters. My uncle (once again without having seen the movie) told me of the incident in which my grandfather was beaten and left for dead on top of a coal car and was not found until he reached Portsmouth, Ohio. I was very much impressed by the location used. Until the recent flood prevention work in Matewan, you could hardly tell the difference between the movie town and the real one. I was also quite taken with the performance of James Earl Jones. Even a decade after seeing it, I can remember many of his lines and the striking way he portrayed Few Clothes. I don't think I could give this movie a higher rating.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Actual Life in WV,
By A Customer
This review is from: Matewan (VHS Tape)
Matewan is one of my favorite movies. I grew up in WV so I can closely identify with the characters and the dialog/accents were easy for me to understand, which may be difficult for others. John Sayles used some artistic license to change the story a little for the movie, but the Matewan Massacre really happened. I believe the character of Joe Keenahan (Kenihan?) is based on Frank Keeney, UMWA District 17 president in 1917. The Baldwin-Felts guards were real. The gunfight at Matewan led to Mingo County being known as "bloody Mingo" to this day. Life in the coal towns is portrayed realistically and the film color is a marvel. The guards really did throw people out of their homes. Around 1912 there is a documented story that during the Paint Creek - Cabin Creek strikes, one miner's wife, in labor, was thrown out of her house. She pleaded to be allowed to first have her child, but the guards threated to shoot her if she didn't leave the house. She gave birth a couple of hours later in a UMWA tent. So remember when you watch this film that other indignities and unspeakable acts occurred in these mine fields - Sayles gives you a good taste of the unfortunate circumstances. Good reading for those interested in learning more after seeing Matewan might be David Alan Corbin's "Life, Work, and Rebellion in the Coal Fields." Matewan is discussed several times in his book. (I have no affliation). You will learn more about how every aspect of a miner's life was controlled by the company - for instance, lessons taught at the company-operated school were designed to educate the children in mining methods and hazards. I'm glad this movie was produced to educate others about the miner's plight. It's an excellent addition to anyone's collection. Too bad it was never publicized enough to make it more mainstream.
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