Boxcar Bertha (1972)

Set in the tumultuous 1930s American South, "Boxcar Bertha" is a riveting tale of resilience, rebellion and unlikely alliances. The story follows the extraordinary life of Bertha Thompson, a young woman left alone in the world after her crop-duster father tragically dies in a crash. Choosing the path of a transient, Bertha embarks on a whirlwind journey, riding the rails and meeting a kaleidoscope of characters that shape her destiny. Bertha's life takes a turn when she crosses paths with three distinct individuals: the outspoken laborer 'Big' Bill Shelly, who champions workers' rights and unions; Rake Brown, a gambler with a penchant for cheating and a gun, yet too timid to use it; and Von Morton, a harmonica-playing black man who once worked for her father. With disparate motivations and dreams, the quartet forms an unshakeable bond, with Bertha and Bill finding in each other an irreplaceable love. While none of the four are inherently inclined towards crime, circumstances lead them down a path of lawlessness that begins with a card game gone awry. Bill's discomfort with their criminal exploits is only alleviated by the potential good he believes it could serve the working class. Their unconventional lifestyle and Bill's fiery pro-union speeches already put them at odds with the police and the railroad establishment. This tension escalates into a personal battle when they incite the wrath of the powerful railway owner Sartoris and the ruthless McIver brothers, his loyal henchmen. "Boxcar Bertha" is inspired by "Sister of the Road," the fictionalized autobiography of the radical and transient Bertha Thompson as penned by Dr. Ben L. Reitman. This poignant tale, set against the backdrop of a violence-ridden Depression era, chronicles Bertha's transformation from a labor organizer in Arkansas to a woman entwined in a life of crime alongside the rebellious 'Big' Bill Shelly, in their relentless fight against the oppressive railroad establishment.

Boxcar Bertha is a crime movie featuring Barbara Hershey.

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