Boxcar Bertha

Boxcar Bertha
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Martin Scorsese
Produced by	Roger Corman Samuel Z. Arkoff (uncredited)
Screenplay by	Joyce H. Corrington John William Corrington Martin Scorsese (uncredited)
Based on	Sister of the Road by Ben L. Reitman
Starring	Barbara Hershey David Carradine Barry Primus Bernie Casey John Carradine
Music by	Gib Guilbeau Thad Maxwell
Cinematography	John Stephens
Edited by	Buzz Feitshans
Production company	American International Pictures
Distributed by	American International Pictures
Release dates	June 14, 1972
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$600,000

Boxcar Bertha is a 1972 American film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is a loose adaptation of Sister of the Road, a pseudo-autobiographical account of the fictional character Bertha Thompson, written by Ben L. Reitman. It was Scorsese's second film.

Plot

The story of Bertha Thompson (played by Barbara Hershey) and "Big" Bill Shelly (played by David Carradine), two train robbers and lovers who are caught up in the plight of railroad workers in the American South. When Bertha is implicated in the murder of a wealthy gambler, the pair become fugitives.

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
• Harry Northup as Harvey Hall
• Victor Argo as First McIver
• David Osterhout as Second McIver
• Ann Morell as Tillie Parr
• Marianne Dole as Mrs Mailler
• Joe Reynolds as Joe Cox
• Grahame Pratt as Emeric Pressburger
• 'Chicken' Holleman as M. Powell

Production

After the success of Bloody Mama Roger Corman wanted to make another female gangster film. Julie Corman researched female gangsters and came across the true story of Boxcar Bertha. Martin Scorsese was hired to direct on the strength of his first feature. He was given the lead actors, including Barbara Hershey, David Carradine, and Barry Primus, and a shooting schedule of 24 days in Arkansas. The Reader Railroad was used for the train scenes.

Scorsese makes a cameo in the film as one of Bertha's clients during the brothel montage.

See also

• List of American films of 1972

External links

• Boxcar Bertha at IMDb
• Boxcar Bertha at AllMovie
• Boxcar Bertha at the TCM Movie Database
• Boxcar Bertha at Rotten Tomatoes