Watching "Matewan" again.

[Brigid]

Oh, how I wish that a really good edition of this would be released. It deserves it.

There is a very tense scene in which company cretin Griggs pulls his gun on Danny. Elma, Danny's mother, looks absolutely terrified. Did she think that Griggs really could shoot Danny and get away with it? Maybe she did. And maybe she was right.

[theHandpuppet]

1. Which edition were you watching?

Just curious because I thought I'd see if anything else is available.

For those unfamiliar with "Matewan": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matewan

[Brigid]

2. The "Seville" one.

It's supposed to be the best one available -- at least it was when I got it.

[vanamonde]

3. Loved this movie!

Should be required watching in high school.

[Brigid]

4. That and "Harlan County USA."

[WillyT]

5. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

Matewan:

http://vimeo.com/88162470

[appal_jack]

6. Truly excellent film.

I lastsaw it on VHS. Would love to own a good Blu Ray edition...

-app

[appalachiablue]

7. Director John Sayles traveled through WV in the '70s then made the movie in '80s

Superb acting, story reaches into the heart of those times, the labor struggles and people of the area.
David Straithern as Sid Hatfield terrific; Chris Cooper as the outside labor activist also, Jas. Earl Jones, all.
Appalch. Singer, musician HAZEL DICKENS featured too.

Mingo and Logan Counties, Tug Fork, Big Sandy home of Hatfields and McCoys.
I was born in Logan.

Mother Jones was active in sw WV, in the earlier Paint Creek miners action.
She was arrested once for reading The Declaration of Independence to workers.

I've had a copy of Matewan for ages, wish it would be shown on cable, esp. in these times.
Other good labor films, 'The Grapes of Wrath', was on TCM this year.
'Norma Rae' 1970s, Sally Fields, N.C. textile worker unionizes factory. Based on true story.

[Brigid]

8. I wish Sayles had been able to tell the whole story.

I read somewhere that he said he said to do that would have made the film twice as long. That's too bad.

I still vividly remember the first time I heard the story of Blair Mountain. It was about five years ago, when the History Channel aired a doc called "Hillbilly: The Real Story". It contained an excellent account of the story -- Matewan, Sid Hatfield, the Red neck Army, the whole bit. I am sad that it isn't better known. It should be.

[appalachiablue]

9. I wish Sayles had continued the story also. His repertoire of films is quite diverse though, maybe

he just moved on. When in Santa Fe 2004 I read he would be at a local opening of his new film, 'Silver ?'. I was going to try to ask him about Matewan but didn't make the event.

The Battle of Blair Mt. is known by many locals, those who enjoy history and it's in some books about WV.
Never heard of the History Channel's "Hillbilly; The Real Story". Will try to find it.

In more recent years Blair Mt. has been in the news because of the threat of mining there at the historic area I think. Don't know the current status but quite an effort was mounted to try to prevent it.

The history of labor in the US should be more known, the miners in Appal., the Ludlow Massacre out West, the brave early textile mill girls in New England who went on strike, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sweatshop tragedy in NYC. Also Mother Jones 'Children's March' when she and many kids walked, barefoot I think, to T. Roosevelt's home Sangamore Hill on Long Island to protest child labor.

I mentioned the few labor movies I could think of like "Norman Rae", "The Grapes of Wrath".
Forgot "On the Waterfront', classic. "Silkwood" is also good, and of course "Erin Brokovitch" on toxic pollution. We're in the corporate, not labor age...

[theHandpuppet]

10. This is the latest info I have on the battle for Blair

Victory for Blair Mountain
Sunday, October 12th, 2014


Last month, a federal appeals court gave Friends of Blair Mountain, The Sierra Club and other groups standing to seek added historical protections for this important historical landmark. This memorial page gives a useful overview of the remarkable history of this mountain. Once the site of the 1921 battle between miners and coal companies, it has been a prime target for mountaintop removal for years. A dedicated group of people from the area and across the country have been working hard to protect this mountain.

Thanks to the September court decision, these groups can now seek legal action to protect this historic treasure from mountaintop removal coal mining. It’s the next step in what will like continue to be a long saga of the second battle for Blair Mountain.

MORE at http://ilovemountains.org/news/5041

Also see "Friends of Blair Mountain" on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Blair-Mountain/142075882557677