Boxcar Bertha (1972) Reviews

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Produced by Roger Corman and directed by Martin Scorsese, Boxcar Bertha is a Bonnie and Clyde-like yarn set during the Depression. The title character, played by Barbara Hershey, links up with union organizer David Carradine (Hershey's real-life lover at the time) after the death of her father. Running afoul of anti-union forces, Bertha and Carradine are forced into a life of crime. Whereas Bonnie and Clyde robbed banks, Boxcar Bertha's specialty is trains. A story of this nature can only end in tragedy, and wait until you see Carradine's symbolic demise! For the record, there really was a Boxcar Bertha Thompson, and it is her autobiography, Sister of the Road, that serves as the basis for Joyce and John Corrington's screenplay. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Starring:: Barbara Hershey, David Carradine, (more)

Director(s):: Martin Scorsese

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: R

Format(s):: DVD
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Average Ratings

(5 member reviews)

Member Reviews

	SANDHYA P.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful

I had expected a great movie from a great director. Boy, wasn't I in for a surprise! A lot of unnecessary nudity and a very average storyline( even though based on a true story) makes this movie a very average fare. I was expecting something with a little more finesse. Only good for a die hard fan of Martin Scorsese. I would probably want to read the book about the real Boxcar Bertha to see how much the director mangled up the actual version .

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	Bruce O.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful

David Carradine stars as a depression era Railroad Ruffian who quickly introduces Bertha (Barbara Hershey) into the world of Hobo Jungles, booze, sex and crime! With his assistance, she becomes a pistol packing outlaw with little regard for being a member of the established society. She decides to become a prostitute for extra money "working" in a sleezy brothel! The railway is relentless in their attempts to catch David Carradine and once they had done so, beat him up and spike his body spread eagled to the side of a boxcar. He is then literally railroaded out of town! Interesting movie of a good girl gone bad in a dark era in American history, the depression..

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	Angel J.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Excellent show for its time

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	Clifford P.

0 out of 0 people found this review helpful

Well, it was better and worse than I expected. Considering it was an early experimental film for Scorsese, and on a Corman production budget, it's not bad. Looks a trifle dated with dialog that might have been clever at the time. Still, always a pleasure to see Ms. Hershey "nekkid", just wish the story would have made more sense.

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