If You Have Comcast (On Demand), And Haven't Seen The Movie 'Matewan'...

[WillyT]

You should... it's in the Free Movies section for On Demand. (Which surprised the bejeezus outta me.)



Quote:

Joe Kenehan: You think this man is the enemy? Huh? This is a worker! Any union keeps this man out ain't a union, it's a goddam club! They got you fightin' white against colored, native against foreign, hollow against hollow, when you know there ain't but two sides in this world - them that work and them that don't. You work, they don't. That's all you get to know about the enemy.

History:

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.

A contingent of the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency arrived on the no. 29 morning train in order to evict families that had been living at the Stone Mountain Coal Camp just on the outskirts of town. The detectives carried out several evictions before they ate dinner at the Urias Hotel and, upon finishing, they walked to the train depot to catch the five o'clock train back to Bluefield, West Virginia. This is when Matewan Chief of Police Sid Hatfield decided that enough was enough, and intervened on behalf of the evicted families. Hatfield, a native of the Tug River Valley, was an adamant supporter of the miners' futile attempts to organize the UMWA in the saturated southern coalfields of West Virginia. While the detectives made their way to the train depot, they were intercepted by Hatfield, who claimed to have arrest warrants from the Mingo County sheriff. Detective Albert Felts then produced his own warrant for Sid Hatfield's arrest. Upon inspection, Matewan mayor Cabell Testerman claimed it was fraudulent. Unbeknownst to the detectives, they had been surrounded by armed miners, who watched intently from the windows, doorways, and roofs of the businesses that lined Mate Street. Stories vary as to who actually fired the first shot; only unconfirmed rumors exist. Thus, on the porch of the Chambers Hardware Store, began the clash that became known as the Matewan Massacre, or the Battle of Matewan. The ensuing gun battle left seven detectives and four townspeople dead, including Felts and Testerman. The battle was hailed by miners and working class members for the number of casualties inflicted on the Baldwin-Felts detectives. This tragedy, along with events such as the Ludlow Massacre in Colorado six years earlier, marked an important turning point in the battle for miners’ rights.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Matewan

Movie Info:

Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/

:kick:

[Brickbat]

1. K&R for a movie that will break you. In a good way.

[Shagbark Hickory]

2. Is it on Xfinity?

[WillyT]

3. I Know Xfinity Was Advertising On Comcast, So Maybe...

but I really don't know.

:shrug:

:hi:

[RainDog]

4. that's such a GREAT indie film

this one, and The Secret of Roan Inish are my two favorite John Sayles films.

[iamtechus]

5. Thought I'd buy it. Checked Amazon and $30.00 used, YIKES!

Anyone have better source for buy/rent?

[QC]

6. Excellent film. Everyone here should see it. n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Kicking, great movie. n/t

[michreject]

8. That's a great movie

I'm from a long list of coal miners. My GDaddy died from black lung. We're all from Harlan County, KY.

[Bozita]

9. K&R - Thanks for the heads up!

[DearAbby]

10. We have that movie in our Video Library

Good Movie, horrible history. The Corporations fear workers uniting. Sad people believe the propaganda "UNIONS" Bad.

[rucky]

11. Will Oldham, age 13, steals the show.

great flick

[leeroysphitz]

12. Good tip. Excellent movie.

[Withywindle]

13. Kick

An awesome movie - pretty much required viewing for anyone interested in labor history. (And for anyone who stereotypes Appalachian people as all ignorant right-wingers.)