Boxcar Bertha

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Cast

Barbara Hershey
as Boxcar Bertha

David Carradine
as Big Bill Shelly

Barry Primus
as Rake Brown

Bernie Casey
as Von Morton

John Carradine
as H. Buckram Sartoris

Grahame Pratt
as Emeric Pressburger

Harry Northrup
as Harvey Hall

Ann Morell
as Tillie

Marianne Dole
as Mrs. Mailer

Joe Reynolds
as Joe Dreft

"Chicken" Holleman
as Michael Powell

David R. Osterhout
as The McIver

Victor Argo
as The McIver

Gayne Rescher
as Brothel Client [uncredited]

Martin Scorsese
as Brothel Client

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Critic Reviews for Boxcar Bertha

Audience Reviews for Boxcar Bertha

• Dec 01, 2016

  Martin Scorsese is one of the greatest directors of all time, but it wasn't always that way. Back in the early 1970's he was still finding his way and trying some techniques out. While Boxcar Bertha is nowhere near the quality of Scorsese's later efforts, you can tell there was talent there, just waiting to be exploited. Boxcar Bertha tells the fictional account of two lovers, a union leader and a loner, who find pleasure taking up crime to seek vengeance on what railroad management has done to them. David Carradine and Barbara Hershey star, as Scorsese directs his second feature length film. With plenty of similarities to Badlands or even Bonnie and Clyde, it's hard to figure out exactly what this film has to offer. In reality, it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, nor is the acting all that impressive. With that said, because of where Scorsese is today, it's worth watching. There are plenty of intriguing shots used by the famed director that he would use later on, or even just certain transitions from scene to scene. As a film geek, that was interesting to see. But as far as the film itself, I don't know that you would get anything out of this story. Just go watch Badlands again. That's a much more fascinating take on two young people taking up murder and crime in the west. +Scorsese trying things out -Nothing new added to this style of a story -Acting is sub-par 4.6/10
  

  Thomas D Super Reviewer
• Oct 26, 2013

  Before Boxcar Bertha, Martin Scorsese had directed one feature film and a few shorts. Roger Corman offered him the chance to direct this film, one of the first crime dramas from Scorsese. This feature can viewed as an exercise in style for Scorsese as he was finding his groove that would later make him famous. This is a well executed gangster film that is very entertaining from beginning to end. Scorsese shows a knack for creating an engaging picture, and it is a very well directed movie that is elevated by its cast. Scorsese would go on to make several cinematic classics, but with Boxcar Bertha he really delivered something that showcased Scorsese's talents as an upcoming director. The film may be unfocused compared to his other works, but it does boast some early trademarks that would make Martin Scorse such a legendary figure in the cinematic medium. The story, I thought was quite good here, and it should a director that was just bursting with confidence and skill in order to create a memorable movie. Boxcar Bertha is not Scorsese's best of course, but it is a necessary film in his career, one that he needed to make to give himself an understanding of the gangster genre, which would be prominent in his works such as Mean Streets, Goodfellas and Casino. As a second full length feature, this is a terrific picture that needs to be seen by any Scorsese fan. The cast do some fine work here and even if it's not a standout gangster film, it's still fairly important in the career of Martin Scorsese, as he would follow up this picture with the phenomenal Mean Streets and three years later bring us the iconic Taxi Driver. Boxcar Bertha shows the viewer a director who was just getting started, and even with its imperfections, you can see where Scorsese was headed with his later work.
  Alex r Super Reviewer
• Nov 12, 2012

  Really, really raw--scatterbrained at best--but man, Scorsese makes a directorial introduction
  Jeff L Super Reviewer
• Aug 16, 2012

  Obviously not Scorsese's best but packs a thrill ride of fun. It should be fun, it's exploitation. I see a lot of similarities to Gangs of New York. Especially in the directing style. This wasn't directed as good as I hoped it would have. But it was directed to be nothing but mindless fun. Everything from the dialogue to the violence was fun enough to keep me interested. This had Scorsese's trademarks such as over the top violence. It gets very violent especially towards the end. But the flaw in directing comes from the structure of the film. It's all over the place and it wasn't very organized. Just like Gangs of New York. The writing wasn't so great either. The story seemed week and rushed. There wasn't much to build up the plot. The acting not so great either. Nothing to special but it's not like they where all armatures. I did like the casting although there chemistry wasn't so great and it shows. But not by the main characters as much as the supporting characters. The production values weren't so great but I'll tell you the truth that I did like them. The blood looked so fake but I sometimes like it when it looks fake. I did like the choice in scenery. It gave it an authentic fell of the depression era. If you are a Scorsese fan then I guarantee you will like this even though it's not so great.
  Eduardo T Super Reviewer

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