Riding the rails

The term hobo stems from the close of the Civil War and is a shortened version of "homeward bound soldier," explains The American Hobo. The willingness of hobos to work while traveling has traditionally differentiated them from tramps (traveling nonworkers) and bums (nontraveling nonworkers). The hobo population exploded during the Great Depression when more than 1.5 million Americans rode the rails. At the heart of this documentary are the on-camera explanations of hobo life provided by several dozen modern hobos, including the late author James Michener and singer/songwriter Merle Haggard. They offer diverse reasons for their choice of lifestyle-excitement, travel, freedom from responsibility, solitude, and camaraderie-while acknowledging the drawbacks: arrest, crime, and accidents. Background music, Ernest Borgnine's understated narration, and unusual camera angles from inside moving boxcars add to the mood. Anyone interested in hobos or alternative lifestyles will want this video. Because of differential pricing, libraries may only want to add where there is strong interest. Riding the Rails tells a narrower story of teenagers during the Great Depression who left their homes to ride the rails. Of the more than 3000 still alive, the 20 interviewed here tell collectively of the overwhelming hardship that drove them from their homes. To most, traveling by rail seemed a better choice despite the lack of work and the hunger, loneliness, crime, illness, and hostility they experienced. The DVD features a discussion by directors Uys and Lovell, a collection of still photos, and an excerpt from Errol Lincoln Uys's book Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression (Routledge, 2003. pap.). An edited version of the documentary appeared as part of PBS's American Experience series. This technically superb and poignant film, with its period black-and-white footage, music, letters, and survivor interviews, sheds additional light on our history. Highly recommended for all libraries.-Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.