Matewan (1987) - Quotes

Exploitation in the Coal Industry

Taglines: At the coal company they use you until you wear out.

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The Power Beyond Violence

Taglines: It takes more than guns to kill a man.

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History of Conflict in Matewan

Older Baldwin-Felts man: Ever hear of the Hatfields and McCoys, son?

Young Baldwin-Felts man: Heh. Sure I have have.

Older Baldwin-Felts man: This here Matewan's their stompin ground. They'll put a bullet in your brain just as soon as look at you.

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Discussion of Historical Weaponry in Context

Griggs: [Asking a foothill man about his rifle] Where'd you get that piece? Spanish War?

Foothill man 2: Nope. War Between the States.

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Discussion on the Burial of Ashes

C. E. Lively: [[w:The Iron Heel|The Iron Heel] Who wrote ]?

Joe Kenehan: [[Jack London] ].

Sephus: [[Joe Hill] Where's ] buried at?

Joe Kenehan: All over the world. They scattered his ashes.

C. E. Lively: Which eye is Big Bill Haywood missing?

Joe Kenehan: His right one.

C. E. Lively: How'd Frank Little die?

Joe Kenehan: Butte, Montana ... they hung him from a railroad trestle.

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Conversation About Work and Backgrounds

Fausto: You dig coals a long time?

Few Clothes Johnson: I've been underground since I was ten. You?

Fausto: We make-a shoe. Everybody in the same factory in Milano make shoe.

Few Clothes Johnson: [Taps ceiling again, a rock falls at their feet.] Shoes. You make-a shoes.

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A Warning About Matewan's Inhabitants

Joe Kenehan: When do we get to Matewan?

Train conductor: You don't want to go there, mister. Ain't nothing but crazy people.

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Company Policies and Community Reactions in Matewan

Cold Mountain representitive: These picks and shovels are to be considered a loan from the Stone Mountain coal company; their cost will be deducted from your first month’s pay. Tool sharpening, provided by the company, is 25 cents a month. Use of the wash house is 75 cents a month. Medical doctor, provided by the company is 2 dollars a month, special procedures extra. Your train ride here, provided by the company, will be deducted from your first month’s pay. Your pay will be issued as company scrip, redeemable for all goods and services at the company store. Purchases of any items available at the company store from outside merchants will result in firing without pay… Powder, fuses, lamps, head gear, all appropriate clothing will be available at the company store, and Stone Mountain will generously advance you a month’s supply of these items, payment to be deducted... Rentals will be for one room, 2.50 a month. Company rule, no more than two people in one room, children included. Electricity, where that is feasible, will be one dollar a month...

Sephus: [Opening lines of film] Shootin coal! Shootin coal!

Hardshell preacher: The Prince of Darkness is upon the land. Now in the Bible his name is Beezlebub, Lord of the Flies. Right now on Earth today his name is Bolshevist! Socialist! Communist! Union man! Lord of untruth, sower of evil seed, enemy of all that is good and pure and this creature walks among us. What are we going to do about it?

Foothill man 1: [Indicates the Model T Ford.] This your machine? Heard it last night, too. It's an offense to the ear.

Foothill man 1: You folks try and keep the noise down you'll do fine. Help yourself to the bird and the rabbit. But if you see any hogs, they's probably ours. We'd appreciate it if you leave them be.

Hill man: Grab his ankles missus, and mind your dress. He's a bleedin like a stuck pig.

Mrs. Knightes: T'ain't no guns allowed at t'dinner table!

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Tragedy of the Number 5 Mine Fire

Elma Radnor: I was putting up blackberries when Trammel Blankenship came shoutin up the holler that the Number 5 had blown. I remember I took the pot off the stovetop and washed my hands before I went down. It took two days to dig through. And then when they brung em up, you couldn't tell which was which. They found blood on the walls from fellas trying to claw their way out. Mrs. Elkins, Mrs. Mounts, Bridey Mae, me ... we all lost our men in that fire. Danny were seven then. Now he's back in that same hole.

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Diversity of Beliefs in the Community

Danny Radnor: Round here, there's the Missionary folks. They's the hardshell Baptists. Then there's the Freewill folks, which is your softshell Baptists. Right now, I preach for both.

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Sharing Our Misery Together

Danny Radnor: [Narrating] All we got is our misery, Joe Kenehan used to say, and the least we could do is share it.

Celebrating a Union Victory

Danny Radnor: We done it mama! We're gonna have the union!

Struggles of Miners in West Virginia

Danny Radnor: [Narrating] It were 19 and 20 in the southwest fields and things was tough. The miners was trying to bring the union to West Virginia and the coal operators and their gun thugs was set on keeping them out.

Confronting Racial and Labor Insults

Few Clothes Johnson: Now you watch your mouth, peckerwood. I've been called nigger, and I can't help that's the way white folks is, but I ain't never been called no scab!

Sid Hatfield's Disdain for Mr. Felts

Sid Hatfield: I've met Mr. Felts. I wouldn't piss on him if his heart was on fire or ice was burned with paintings.

Loyalty and Consequences in Matewan

Sid Hatfield: I take care of my people. You bring em trouble, and you're a dead man. Sleep tight, Kenehan.

Unity and Caution in Labor Struggles

Joe Kenehan: Fellas, we’re in a hole full of coal gas here. The tiniest spark at the wrong time is going to be the end of us. So we got to pick away at this situation, slow and careful. We got to organize and build support. We got to work together. Together! Till they can’t get their coal out of the ground without us cause we’re a union! Cause we’re the workers damn it and we take care of each other!

Dividing Lines in the Fight for Workers

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 got to know about the enemy.