Harlan County U.S.A.

"Which Side Are You On?"

1976 1h 44m EN

🙌

7.6

BANGER

🔥

100%

CERTIFIED FRESH

💯

METACRITIC

⭐

8.2

IMDB

★7.6TMDB · 124🍅100%Rotten Tomatoes●80Metacritic★8.2IMDB · 6,824

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A heartbreaking record of the thirteen-month struggle between a community fighting to survive and a corporation dedicated to the bottom line.

“Which Side Are You On?”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Norman Yarborough
Self - Eastover Mining President
Houston Elmore
Self - UMW Organizer
Phil Sparks
Self - UMW Staff
Bessie Lou Cornett Parker
Self
Sudie Crusenberry
Self
Mary Lou Fergerson
Self
Basil Collins
Self - Mine Foreman
Florence Reece
Self

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Barbara Kopple
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Barbara Kopple, shot by Kevin Keating. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Hazel Dickens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mirra Bank shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Norman Yarborough and Houston Elmore and Phil Sparks carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Which Side Are You On?".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0074605 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Barbara Kopple directs. Kevin Keating behind the camera. Hazel Dickens scores. Mirra Bank cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Barbara Kopple, shot by Kevin Keating. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Hazel Dickens. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Mirra Bank shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Norman Yarborough and Houston Elmore and Phil Sparks carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Which Side Are You On?".
8IMDB entry: tt0074605 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 11 themes, including "strike", "kentucky", "mining", "working class".