Time To Celebrate Cult Movie Queen Barbara Hershey’s Martin Scorsese Film!
Martin Scorsese has directed some of my favorite films of all time: “Taxi Driver”, “The King Of Comedy” and “Goodfellas” among them – but like many other acclaimed Directors, he got his start by making exploitation films – classic “B” movies with sexy, empowered women!
Legendary Director Martin Scorsese directed an early 70’s drive-in exploitation classic, “Boxcar Bertha”, starring the iconic Actress Barbara Hershey!
Hershey was a rising star by the end of the 1960’s: she starred in the very provocative 1969 film “Last Summer”:
The film told the story of young high school graduates who were discovering that becoming an adult was more emotionally devastating than they expected:
Bruce Davison and Richard Thomas also starred, and it featured nude scenes and adult sexual situations that were still rare for mainstream film in those days:
Just a few years later, Hershey would star in Martin Scorsese’s only “drive-in” movie – and wait until you hear what advice he got as a result!
70’s Sex Kitten Barbara Hershey!
Barbara Hersheys role in “Boxcar Bertha”was uninhibited, and she was mesmerizing onscreen!
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 humor and “B” movie sensibility!
The film has all of the requisite sex, nudity and violence expected of a great drive-in film.
It was, however, to be Scorsese’s last drive-in movie!
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!
Can you imagine two stars doing this to promote a film today?
“Boxcar Bertha” is a drive-in classic, and was just one example of A-list talent who got their start in cult cinema:
Sissy Spacek made a revealing movie debut in the gritty action gem called “Prime Cut” – click here to see more of her provocative scenes in the film:
Perhaps the most provocative Actress alive is Helen Mirren – an Oscar winner who also revealed all for her roles:
Click here to see her most provocative roles:
Actress Patti D’Arbanville also was an acclaimed Actress who wasn’t afraid to take on provocative roles:
You can see all of her greatest film roles by clicking on my story here:
If you like these stories, you can go to my website’s front page and sign on to follow me – there are NO ads at all, just lots of stories to come about the wild world of exploitation and cult films!
Click here and see the “follow” button on the upper right!
And kudos to Scorsese, Hershey and Carradine for the fun classic slice of depression-era sexploitation that is “Boxcar Bertha!”
Categories: 70's Films, Artsploitation, Books / Media, Classic Action Films, Exploitation Films, Extreme Cinema, Grindhouse, JRsploitation, Nudity, sex kittens, Talent / Celebrites
JR-Sploitation! 
Readers of this blog probably prefer this kind of movie to “Beaches”…
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HA! Probably so!
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Best part of Beaches was that Midler didn’t get naked.
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