Harlan County U.S.A. 47 years old
Which Side Are You On?
This film documents the coal miners' strike against the Brookside Mine of the Eastover Mining Company in Harlan County, Kentucky in June, 1973. Eastovers refusal to sign a contract (when the miners joined with the United Mine Workers of America) led to the strike, which lasted more than a year and included violent battles between gun-toting company thugs/scabs and the picketing miners and their supportive women-folk. Director Barbara Kopple puts the strike into perspective by giving us some background on the historical plight of the miners and some history of the UMWA.
Credits
Harlan County U.S.A. Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| Florence Reece She was 76, 86 years old when she died | as Herself |
| Mary Lou Fergerson | as Herself |
| Houston Elmore | as Himself - UMW organizer |
| Bessie Lou Cornett | as Herself |
| Sudie Crusenberry | as Herself |
| Norman Yarborough | as Himself - Eastover Mining President |
| Basil Collins He was 85, 54 years old when he died | as Himself - mine foreman |
| Phil Sparks | as Himself - UMW staff |
| Lois Scott | as Herself |
Harlan County U.S.A. Crew
| Name | Department |
|---|---|
| Nancy Baker as Editor. | Editing |
| Kevin Keating as Director of Photography. | Camera |
| Rip Torn as Thanks. He was 45 (88) years old when He died | Crew |
| Hart Perry as Director of Photography. | Camera |
| Barbara Kopple as Director. She was 30 (now 78) years old | Directing |
| Barbara Kopple as Producer. She was 30 (now 78) years old | Production |
| Barbara Kopple as Sound Recordist. She was 30 (now 78) years old | Sound |
| Merle Travis as Original Music Composer. He was 58 (65) years old when He died | Sound |
| Mirra Bank as Editor. | Editing |
| Mary Lampson as Editor. | Editing |
| Hazel Dickens as Original Music Composer. She was 41 (75) years old when She died | Sound |
| Lora Hays as Editor. | Editing |
| Joshua Waletzky as Sound Editor. | Sound |
Harlan County U.S.A. (47 years)
Which Side Are You On?
- Release day: Sunday, January 23, 1977
- Runtime: 103 minutes