The Narrow Margin
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Movie Reviews of The Narrow Margin
Movie Review: A crime noir classic! Definitely one of the best from that era!
Summary: 5 Stars
This review is for the 2005 Warner Brothers DVD.
The story is about a widow of a gangster who is living in Chicago and needs to appear in Los Angeles to testify against men who conducted illegal activities in connection with her late husband. Two cops are assigned to bring her to Los Angeles on a train and suspect that a crime syndicate will try to prevent her from testifying. As a result, there's lots of action and adventure soon to follow.
Charles McGraw stars as Detective Walter Brown and gives one of the best performances I've seen in a long time as a tough, no-nonsense cop. With his rough, baritone voice and large muscular frame, he takes on some very formidable adversaries, yet holds his profession in high esteem. The rest of the main characters in this film also play their roles convincingly. This is an entertaining story from start to finish with lots of action and twists in the plot. The script is smart and original. There is also some great photography work inside the train. This film is a must see for any movie fan, even those not familiar with post-WWII crime noir films.
The picture quality is near pristine. Very little negative wear or damage can be observed. The sound is excellent, especially considering all of the sound effects one would expect from a train ride.
PLEASE NOTE: Before buying this DVD, consider buying the Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 2 which contains this movie plus four other highly recommended movies at a very reasonable price.
Movie: A
DVD Quality: A-
Movie Review: The gravy train
Summary: 5 Stars
With her great body, huge dark eyes and unsmiling countenance, Marie Windsor, "the Queen of the Bs," seemed to personify film noir. In one of her most memorable roles, she plays in THE NARROW MARGIN a mobster's widow who must be transported by a police officer (Charles MacGraw, another noir staple) on a train from Chicago to LA with assassins on board--who do not know what she looks like. Memorably dolled up in fetishistic strappy high heels, cheap dangling earrings and a tight dress, Windsor is fortunate to have a director here worthy of her in Richard Fleischer, whose inventive use of camera placement and mise-en-scene seems to make perfect use of the narrow confines of the train's corridors and Pullman rooms. There are several sequences--most memorably the famous initial attack in the Chicago tenement stairwell, the fight in the men's bathroom, and the stopover in La Junta, CO--where he seems to anticipate Brian de Palma in his brilliant use of editing and camera placement to indicate several things going on at once on different points in a confined space; he also makes memorable use of window reflections to heighten suspense (and, in the finale,to further the story). The only downside of the film is Jacqueline White, vaguely reminsicent of Elinor Donahue, as MacGraw's wholesome love interest on the train: she seems to have wandered in from a different movie altogether. One of the most beloved of all film noirs, this comes with a bizarrely superfluous commentary from director William Friedkin, who seeems to imagine an audience who has never been to a movie before in their lives.Movie Review: Slim Chances
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a review for THE NARROW MARGIN (1952) directed by Richard Fleisher, a fast paced police noir, in which Det. Sgt. Walter Brown, played by Charles McGraw, is assigned to accompany former mob boss wife, Mrs. Frankie Neal, played by Marie Windsor, from Chicago to Los Angeles by train so she can testify before an LA grand jury. Brown's task is no easy one since Mrs. Neal's journey to the witness stand is not wanted by mob factions and her life has been threatened.
Detective Sergeant Brown's partner, Det Sgt. Gus Forbes,warmley played by Don Beddoe, is slain in a hail of gunfire while trying to get Mrs. Neal out of her own apartment building via a darkened hallway so now Detective Brown is on his own and insists on making the perilous train trip without any more help.
The rest of THE NARROW MARGIN is the story of that tense, exciting journey along with Sergeant Brown's discoveries about himself and his own perceptions, how meaningfulful they might be and how useful they are in his life outside of police work. Also THE NARROW MARGIN displays the ironic subtext of detective Brown ready to unquestionally give his life, as did his partner, to complete his assignment even though, as we learn towards the end of the story, he is constantly under suspicion and being tested as to HIS honesty and loyalty by that same governmental agency.
THE NARROW MARGIN is a fine movie, full of excellent performances and one that you will watch more than once .
I give it Five Stars.
Movie Review: A Narrow Margin for Error
Summary: 5 Stars
It is always a treat to see a "B-picture" that is so good, it is better than most A-grade pictures; this is such a film. The fact that it, like FRANKENSTEIN (1931) doesn't have a soundtrack, only adds to its interest.
A simple story: the protection of a gangster's widow on a train from Chicago to L.A., with hitmen aboard. Charles McGraw is extremely memorable as the police protection. Marie Windsor, as the spoiled yet frightened widow is also top-notch.
As the train hurtles onward, one can't help feeling a tad claustrophobic, especially when the obese Paul Maxey blocks the corridor, and demonstrates the narrowness of the passage. The atmosphere, combined with a growing sense of tension and suspense, helps to create one of film noir's true gems.
This movie could have very easily lapsed into a run-of-the-mill B-picture. But the efforts of the entire cast, George Diskant's photographic eye, Martin Goldsmith's pen, and Richard Fleischer's direction, keep it on track: literally.
Warner has done a good job with the DVD quality; great picture and sound. The DVD has a commentary by William Friedkin, augmented with previously recorded audio excerpts, featuring director Richard Fleischer. The disc is available as a single purchase or in the "Film Noir Classic Collection", Vol.2.
Movie Review: "This Train Is Headed Straight For The Cemetery!"
Summary: 5 Stars
THE NARROW MARGIN is the apex of film noir. If you have friends and family who want to know what film noir is, give them this movie. All the classic elements are here:
Modest length - the movie clocks in at a spare 71 minutes, and all the fat has been trimmed. There is not one wasted moment, and the action will keep viewers rivited.
Brilliant black & white photography - all the moody shadows, claustrophobic camera angles and amazing lighting that epitomizes film noir are on hand here and used to great effect.
Snappy dialogue - some of the best hard-boiled dialogue I've heard ("I've met some hard cases before, lady, but you make 'em look like putty") ("What are you going to do? Shoot something for breakfast?"). The barbs come quick and steady, with menace and biting sarcasm.
Femme fatale - Mrs. Neil, the protected Mob witness is nasty, self-centered, selfish and mean. Detective Brown is almost no match for her sharp tongue.
In additon, there are twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the penultimate moment. This is one of those "old" movies that bear repeated viewings. Economy of direction, script and suspense that builds throughout make this film noir a classic.