“The Narrow Margin” (1952) starring Charles McGraw and Marie Windsor / Z-View

The Narrow Margin (1952)

Director:  Richard Fleischer

Screenplay: Earl Felton, story by Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Stars: Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, Jacqueline White, Queenie Leonard, David Clarke, Don Beddoe, Paul Maxey, Peter Brocco, George Chandler  and Harry Harvey.

Tagline: ‘THAT BULLET’S MEANT FOR ME!” – Suspense every speeding second aboard a stream-lined limited…as syndicate killers seek to find and silence mystery woman headed for the Grand Jury!

The Plot…

Detective Sergeant Walter Brown (McGraw) and his partner, Sergeant Gus Forbes (Beddoe) are tasked to safely bring Mrs. Frankie Neall (Windsor) from Chicago to LA.  Mrs. Neall is a big time mobster’s wife.  She’s turning state’s evidence that will bring down the mob. So she’s been marked for death.

The plan is to get Mrs. Neall on a train that is going straight from Chicago to LA.  Problem is, more than one mob hitman will be on the train as well.

All aboard!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

 The Narrow Margin was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Writing, Motion Picture Story – Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard

Much of The Narrow Margin was made using a handheld camera.  It was one of the first movies to be filmed this way.

Howard Hughes, who owned RKO (the studio that made the movie), liked The Narrow Margin so much, he wanted to not release it and immediately remake it with Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.  Hughes thought with the new cast and a few script changes the remake could be a major hit.  The Narrow Margin‘s release was held up for two years until Howard Hughes decided to get out of the movie business and sold his interest in RKO.

The Narrow Margin has a great plot twist that most folks probably won’t see coming.

The Narrow Margin (1952) rates 4 of 5 stars