Home › 70's Cinema › “Boxcar Bertha”! Naked Barbara Hershey! Martin Scorsese’s Exploitation Classic!

“Boxcar Bertha”! Naked Barbara Hershey! Martin Scorsese’s Exploitation Classic!

By johnrieber on April 11, 2015 • ( 1 )

Some of films greatest Directors got their start by making terrific “B’ movies!

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.”

Martin Scorsese, cinema’s “man behind the curtain”, got his start by directing a drive-in classic, starring a sexy Barbara Hershey!

70’s Sex Kitten Barbara Hershey!

Barbara Hershey was one of Hollywood’s most popular sex kittens in the early 70’s, and “Boxcar Bertha” may just be her masterpiece! Here is the trailer:

Here is how IMDB describes “Boxcar Bertha”:

‘Boxcar’ Bertha Thompson, a woman labor organizer in Arkansas during the violence-filled Depression of the early ’30’s, meets up with rabble-rousing union man ‘Big’ Bill Shelly, played by David Carradine.

The duo team up to fight the corrupt railroad establishment – leading Bertha to team up with his gang and a life of crime…

Directed By Martin Scorsese!

Early in his career, Scorsese directed “Bertha” for legendary exploitation Producer Roger Corman. The Director mixed his love of stylish action with a great sense of humor and “B” movie sensibility!

Scorsese’s Last Drive-In Pic!

Even though the film got good reviews, the Director was given some very sage advice from one of his mentors…

According to IMDB, Martin Scorsese screened the film for Director/Actor John Cassavetes. Cassavetes hugged him and said:

“Marty, you’ve just spent a whole year of your life making a piece of shit. It’s a good picture, but you’re better than the people who make this kind of movie.”

Scorsese must have taken his advice, because his next film was his classic “Mean Streets”!

Barbara Hershey Bares All For Playboy!

Imagine this happening today! To help promote the film, Hershey and Carradine did a nude photo spread for Playboy!

Thanks to the great exploitation website “Beasts In Human Skin”, you can see some of the notorious nudes!

Again, thanks to the terrific exploitation website:

http://www.beastsinhumanskin.com

“Boxcar Bertha” is a drive-in classic, and was just the beginning for Martin Scorsese, who soon directed one of the greatest films of all time:

“Taxi Driver” is a haunting masterpiece – read all about it by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/new-yorks-gritty-movie-streets-taxi-drivers-subway-hijackings-cop-chases/

Scorsese has a career full of masterpieces: from “Raging Bull” to “GodFellas”, but perhaps his most neglected film is this one:

Rupert Pupkin Lives!

Thanks to blu-ray techologoy, you can see this neglected 1982 masterpiece in its full glory, along with a ton of great extras! Read all about them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/25/the-king-of-comedy-goes-blu-amazing-extras-scorsese-grills-pupkin/

And of course, Scorsese will always been known for a film that teaches you the right way to slice garlic: