Hobo

Hugely compelling documentary about grizzled philosophising Hobo Beargrease and his no less charismatic, rail-riding companions. Hobo remains one of the great works of American cinema, while the director clearly has an eye for a spectacular vista or three, it never feels intrusive, or gratuitously staged. Beargease is such an engaging narrator, a wise, even tempered, peace-loving, fearlessly freight-hopping fellow. A cliché, perhaps, but much of John T. Davis's 'Hobo' feels akin to a Dylan, Tom Paxton, or Woody Guthrie song come to vividly locomotive life. Hobo's many accolades are well deserved, since it remains such a memorably immersive experience. I experience very little in the way of nostalgia watching older documentaries, as the dates may change, people remain the same, and, sadly, the divide between rich and poor is no less conspicuous.

The stars and the scenery make this doc. Wish they remastered it, as the copy I got was missing some sound in some scenes. It reminded me of Jack Kerouac's book On the Road (1957).

It is not romanticised at all, and the participants still do a decent job of selling this lifestyle. The camera goes where they go: on freight trains night and day. Seeing America from this angle with excellent cinematography, while listening to their stories which drove them there, was powerful film making. Some of the scenery wants you to jump a train. That said it is a difficult life out in the environments, and as pointed out, a dangerous one. The price of freedom. Imagine these days will be much more difficult to ride freight trains for free (if not impossible), as they bring up that security was already being beefed up in 1990 when this doc was released. There was a character called Big Red who's foresight struck me, as his comments were quite prophetic, as it was if he was almost seeing in to the future of 2023.

Some nice tunes selected also for soundtrack.

Such a great experience to watch this very well done documentary. I highly recommend it. It is free on YouTube.