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Bertha, (Barbra Hershey) a small time crook who fall in love with a union man, Bill Shelly, (David Carridine). They both become like Robin Hood. They steal from the wealthy, and give to the working class. Bertha and Bill soon become train robbers in the south in the depression era. As they become more brave in their life of crime, the law becomes more ruthless. Soon their life of crime leads them to a one way destination.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I was so thrilled when I found out that there was a movie version of Boxcar Bertha, a book supposedly written by Dr. Ben Reitman as told to him by Boxcar Bertha. I was even more excited when I found out that it was a Scorcese film. The reality of it is, however, Reitman created the character of Bertha, a fictional composite of real people, including himself, at best. The further reality is that the film had little to no relation to the book and was a major disappointment in and of itself, free from that disconnect. It simply seemed to use-- or abuse-- the cache of the book; it is a sort of bait-and-switch. The movie seems to go nowhere and doesn't really develop much, and I am actually offended on some level by one of the characters, which I won't go into. The movie is quite shallow as well, and the climax is insane. The characters are somewhat one dimensional. I assumed this was going to stay in my collection but after one very disappointing view, I am mailing it to my friend Mike who is also a big fan of hobo-, labor-, and underworld-related Americana. I am curious to see what he has to say. I would recommend reading the book 'Sister of the Road: The Autobiography of Boxcar Bertha' (1937)instead. I would even more strongly recommend the biography of Ben Reitman 'The Damndest Radical: The Life and World of Ben Reitman, Chicago's Celebrated Social Reformer, Hobo King, and Whorehouse Physician' (2001) as successfully written by Roger Bruns. Reitman was a great man and he was quite real.Read full review
This film, originally released in 1972, seems at the outset to have many things going for it. David Carradine (best known from the series "Kung Fu") and the beautiful Barbara Hershey ("The Monroes") playing the leads, a story line based on true events, and Martin Scorsese in one of his earliest directing efforts. Unfortunately, those attributes do not save the film from being boring, disjointed, and tedious to watch. Shortly after the beginning of the movie, I began to watch "Boxcar Bertha" as if it was a parody, sort of a badly acted "Bonnie and Clyde." Carradine and Hershey are lovers, occasionally separated when he gets jailed for his "socialist" union views and actions. Their "love" is unconvincing. Both become criminals and go on crime sprees with a few other misfits, usually against the "evil" railroad (Carradine's father plays the owner). There seems to be no real purpose to the film other than to show their crimes and resulting celebrations, and to show off the myriad explosions of red dye when someone gets shot. The end of the film is grisly and predictable, as the two lovers are eternally separated when Carradine is crucified to a boxcar by railroad toughs. My wife's final comment was: "so are we throwing the DVD away?" That about covers it.Read full review
I loved this movie but then, I am prejudiced! I love David Carradine! It was great right up to the time they nailed him to the train! All I can say to these onscreen horrible deaths he is subjected to, IS........THEY CAN'T EVER HURT HIM EVER AGAIN! Chap them up! LOL!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Barbara Hershey and David Caradine give nice performances in the Martin Scorsese directed film. As Boxcar Bertha and Big Bill Shelley, they play outlaws who take on the railroad. The film takes place during the Great Depression and it's part Bonnie and Clyde and part Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Bertha and Big Bill are lovers who are part of a gang that spends most of the film robbing the railroad. I enjoyed the movie very much, but the only complaint I can give is the ending. You don't find out what happens to Bertha at the end. Does she get caught or what? She eventually wrote the novel that this movie is based on, so apparently she didn't die. Other than that, if you like Bonnie and Clyde or Butch and Sundance, you'll like this movie as well. It's well acted and it has a compelling story.Read full review
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