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Boxcar Bertha

Play trailer Poster for Boxcar Bertha R 1972 1h 28m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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54% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 33% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Martin Scorsese's second feature loosely adapts the autobiography of Bertha Thompson, portraying the adventures of the Depression-era criminal following the death of her father. Bertha (Barbara Hershey) joins union organizer Big Bill Shelly (David Carradine) in fighting anti-union forces after an unexpected murder drives them to a life of robbing trains. The atmospheric tale depicts their life on the lam, doing whatever is necessary to survive.

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Boxcar Bertha

Boxcar Bertha

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Critics Consensus

Too derivative of other Roger Corman crime pictures to stand out, Boxcar Bertha feels more like a training exercise for a fledgling Martin Scorsese than a fully formed picture in its own right.

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Critics Reviews

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Keith Phipps The Ringer 11/02/2019
Boxcar Bertha is filled with recognizably Scorsese touches. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety 03/31/2008
The Roger Corman production, shot on an austere budget in Arkansas area, is routinely directed by Martin Scorsese. Go to Full Review
Howard Thompson New York Times 05/09/2005
3/5
While there is a striking similarity [to Bonnie and Clyde] in general content, background, fine color photography and even the use of hillbilly music, the new, more modest film stands curiously on its own. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Jan 20
If the rebellious spirit and social message behind the sex and violence is more [Roger] Corman than Scorsese, the film references and often inventive direction is pure Scorsese. Go to Full Review
Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap 10/14/2024
3/5
Martin Scorsese's second feature was a cheapie exploitation flick for Roger Corman, but it's still marked by some layered performances and ambitious camera work. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 06/18/2024
3/5
You can see the fingerprints of the director that Scorsese would quickly become. His specific attention to detail, his knack for immersing the audience into his well-drawn setting, his fluid use of the camera – it’s all on display. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Gus L @RT25340737 3d "Yes, I’d just like to say this is a holdup. We’ve come for your money and jewels." Actual footage of me playing Red Dead Redemption II. See more Christian M @chriss17eu Feb 3 'Boxcar Bertha' marks the beginning of what could be called Scorsese’s "shooting cinema": a more direct style with a stronger emphasis on action, where the Bible, sex, and nudity reappear without a clearly defined function—whether as provocation, character development, or moral statement. The film also leans into political cinema, portraying class struggle and oppressed workers who must organize and resist, recalling 'Metropolis'. Unlike 'Who’s That Knocking at My Door', the narrative is linear and accessible, with no intent to disorient the viewer. Editing takes precedence over the screenplay, while the insistent use of music can become exhausting. The central group works well together, but Barbara Hershey stands out as the emotional core and clear protagonist. The unsettling ending, built around absence rather than resolution, gives the film its strength. Imperfect but valuable, it helps illuminate the evolution of Scorsese’s filmmaking. See more Tom M @RT77934561 Nov 18 I love a bit of Scorcese. But not particularly this bit. Low budget thrills which I used to love from these types of films no longer excite me. Not sure how much personal input Marty was allowed but this isn't what you'd expect from the director of today. See more Red T @RT43513976 09/14/2023 It's ok enough. The acting is ok enough overall but no one except Bill is really given much character. Hershey is probably the strongest performance and isn't bad overall but she isn't given much backstory, motivations, or much dialouge even. Everyone else just kind of blends in. The cinematography isn't bad and is the best thing. Shots are well framed, the settings have a gritty low budget feel to them that works well, but the scenes themselves don't have a lot of compelling things going on. The worst part about this is the subpar editing. This is called boxcar bertha but if you asked me who the main character is, I'd have to say Big Bill is more the main character 60% of the time than Bertha. She doesn't get hardly any backstory, we don't see her grow up, rather we see her just do stuff in a crime adventure style plot. This can't decide if it wants to be a character study or a crime drama, heck it can't decide who the main focus is even. The plot does make sense though and is simple but never comelling and very standard stuff told in a subpar way. It truly feels like Bertha is forgotten about for most of the middle of this film and is more a vechile for telling Big Bill's story than anything. The pacing is ok enough though as this is really short for better or for worse and never overstays its welcome. Add in a generic harmonica track that plays through the entire runtime and you can see why there really isn't any reason to watch this. Even if your a fan of any actors in this. Skip it. See more Steve D @RT35616104 03/18/2023 Martin Scorsese lacks the talent at this point to pull this off. Few signs of the legend he will become. See more dave s @RT68722908 03/09/2022 Other than a couple of stylistic flourishes and a Christ-like image at the end, there is not much in Martin Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha that would hint at his later successes, most notably Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, two classics that would be released in the decade following Boxcar Bertha. Backed by producer Roger Corman and the AIP studio, it's a low budget period piece that follows the exploits of Bertha (Barbara Hershey) and ‘Big' Bill (David Carradine) as they rob their way through the south. Other than decent performances from Hershey and Carradine and a catchy, albeit somewhat tiring, music score, there's really not much to see here. Much like the characters, the plot wanders about aimlessly, the editing is choppy and inconsistent, and the direction lacks Scorsese's usual confidence, understandable when one considers the measly budget. See more Read all reviews
Boxcar Bertha

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Boxcar Bertha

Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Crime Spree Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Crime Spree 1:44 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Train Robbers Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Train Robbers 2:13 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Breaking Out Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Breaking Out 2:09 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Holding Up the Party Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Holding Up the Party 2:10 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Captured Again Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Captured Again 2:10 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Big Bill Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Big Bill 2:05 Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Crucified Boxcar Bertha: Official Clip - Crucified 1:28 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Martin Scorsese's second feature loosely adapts the autobiography of Bertha Thompson, portraying the adventures of the Depression-era criminal following the death of her father. Bertha (Barbara Hershey) joins union organizer Big Bill Shelly (David Carradine) in fighting anti-union forces after an unexpected murder drives them to a life of robbing trains. The atmospheric tale depicts their life on the lam, doing whatever is necessary to survive.
Director
Martin Scorsese
Producer
Roger Corman
Screenwriter
Joyce Hooper Corrington, John William Corrington
Production Co
American International Pictures (AIP)
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 13, 1972, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 3, 2017
Runtime
1h 28m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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