Review of Boxcar Bertha (1972) by Matt P — 03 Jun 2011

This 1930s American South-based film is a cross between Bonnie and Clyde and The Dukes of Hazzard. And you can throw in some of Scorsese's trademarks as well. Like Mean Streets and Taxi Driver to come later that decade, he showcases a great deal of shocking and bloody violence, and with Barry Primus, there is delicous irreverent humour abound.

Bertha possesses morals that leave a lot to be desired but thanks to Hershy's performance and that massive smile of hers, she happens to be a ray of sunshine throughout her escapades on the southern railways.

Clearly here, Scorsese is a young, budding New York film-maker tuning his unique style and philosophy in an attempt to reach a wider audience. In retrospect, having watched several of his subsequent films, it appears that Scorsese had a deep, very deep, contempt for authority and he was never afraid to challange aspects of societal and police violence head-on.