Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Riding the Rails

      Released Apr 13, 1998 1h 12m Documentary List
      100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 86% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Filmmakers Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell interview 10 who train-hopped as teens during the Great Depression. Read More Read Less

      Where to Watch

      Riding the Rails

      Prime Video

      Rent Riding the Rails on Prime Video, or buy it on Prime Video.

      Critics Reviews

      View All (8) Critics Reviews
      Walter Goodman New York Times The spirit of these young wanderers is caught in the haunting songs, the gritty photographs and the memories, a mix of worry at being on their own and excitement of being on the move. Dec 4, 2017 Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express Riding the Rails is an essential American history lesson. Mar 3, 2021 Full Review Jim Lane Sacramento News & Review Rated: 4/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Carol Cling Las Vegas Review-Journal Rated: 4/5 Nov 7, 2003 Full Review TV Guide Rated: 4/5 Jul 30, 2003 Full Review Kevin Lally Film Journal International Gorgeous and moving. Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (8) audience reviews
      Audience Member Interesting, moving doc. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Audience Member A fascinating, but perhaps too brief, look at a particular group of people at a very particular time in America's history. Those young people who climbed up on train cars and rode from one part of the country to another, living a strange, free, dangerous life filled with adventure and suffering. I was impressed by the excellent interviewees, each an amazing storyteller in their own right. This is a must for someone interested in the time period. The little glimpses into the lives of such different people, all driven by chaotic times, are sometimes painful, sometimes wistful, but often tinged with a sort of subtle danger. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Engrossing documentary of youthful hobos. The Great Depression caused many American youth leave home to illegally ride freight trains. An estimated 4 million people rode the rails looking for work. See the official trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOjQFyvqGTg The personal interviews of now older adults is fascinating to hear. Lots of interviews too. Era film showing what one man describes as a dog's life. The CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) were camps that provided relief and the film goes into that extensively. Narrated, with songs of the time. Some towns forbid rail youth. Some would not give any medical care. Homelessness was considered a crime. Camps, called jungles, were established by the kids and adults. The homeless came from everywhere. Some good footage about that too. Times were so bad as one recalled, getting paid was in a few tomatoes after unloading a railcar full of coal. Another man got 15 cents for a day's work, but gave it back thinking the employer needed it more than he. A trip back to a time when suffering was a way of life. As one man remembered, a humilating experience. One man cries on screen just talking about how homesick he got. Some color, mostly black and white, a disturbing reflection of a time no one should live through. Some will find this depressing to watch. Others will find it a heartfelt look back to a time we hope will never happen again. For the film in its entirety, try checking pbs.org. or the trailer only at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOjQFyvqGTg Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member Made-for-TV documentary is well-made, but only semi-entertaining. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A wonderful documentary, effective interviews, excellent footage from the era it is about. Informative, moving and very thought provoking. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member A wonderful documentary, effective interviews, excellent footage from the era it is about. Informative, moving and very thought provoking. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      100% 89% 4 Little Girls 100% 80% The Decline of Western Civilization Part III 80% 92% Hands on a Hardbody 92% 67% The Big One 60% 70% Paris Was a Woman Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Riding the Rails photos

      Riding the Rails

      Riding the Rails (1997) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Filmmakers Michael Uys and Lexy Lovell interview 10 who train-hopped as teens during the Great Depression.
      Director
      Lexy Lovell, Michael Uys
      Screenwriter
      Lexy Lovell, Michael Uys
      Distributor
      Public Broadcasting Service
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Apr 13, 1998, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 26, 2021
      Runtime
      1h 12m
      Most Popular at Home Now