Search - Boxcar Bertha on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Nudity, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1972 DVD Release: 03/19/2002 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 28 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 4 Genres: Crime, Road Movie, Docudrama, Crime Thriller

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, All Movie Guide

Barbara Hershey - Bertha
David Carradine - Bill Shelley
Barry Primus - Rake Brown
Bernie Casey - Von Morton
John Carradine - H. Buckram Sartoris

Boxcar Bertha was director Martin Scorsese's second feature-length film, and though it doesn't carry the emotional power or weight of Mean Streets (the film he would make the following year and which would set the artistic tone for many of his subsequent productions), there is still plenty to enjoy here, mainly Barbara Hershey's performance as the title character. MGM Home Entertainment's disc is likewise worthwhile, offering up the low budget Roger Corman production with a very nice remastered transfer. The picture is consistently sharp and balanced and has been appropriately letterboxed (1.85:1 enhanced). The English mono soundtrack is unfortunately another matter -- there are frequent pops and poorly mixed scenes contained on it. But overall, it's nothing too bothersome. The disc also contains the film's original theatrical trailer, giving one a look at how the film looked before being cleaned up. Multiple subtitle options and a French language mono soundtrack are also available. A must for all Scorsese fans. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide