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The Narrow Margin backdrop
The Narrow Margin logo
1952·Thriller·1h 11m
7.1
★
A tough cop meets his match when he has to guard a gangster's widow on a train journey from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Directed by Richard Fleischer
hitman
widow
telegram
overweight man
police protection
blonde
little boy
film noir
murder
undercover cop
police detective
railroad detective
gunman
brawl
followed
train trip
hard-boiled dame
YouTube
Trailer
IMDB
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Amazon VideoApple TV StoreAmazon Video

Cast

Charles McGraw
Charles McGraw
Det. Sgt. Walter Brown
Marie Windsor
Marie Windsor
Mrs. Frankie Neall
Jacqueline White
Jacqueline White
Ann Sinclair
Queenie Leonard
Queenie Leonard
Mrs. Troll
David Clarke
David Clarke
Joseph Kemp
Don Beddoe
Don Beddoe
Det. Sgt. Gus Forbes
Paul Maxey
Paul Maxey
Sam Jennings
Harry Harvey
Harry Harvey
Train Conductor
Peter Brocco
Peter Brocco
Vincent Yost (uncredited)
George Chandler
George Chandler
Accomplice Running Newsstand (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Franklyn Farnum
Train Passenger (uncredited)
Don Haggerty
Don Haggerty
Det. Wilson (uncredited)

Crew

Richard Fleischer
Richard Fleischer
Director
William Cameron Menzies
William Cameron Menzies
Co-Director
Albert S. D'Agostino
Albert S. D'Agostino
Art Direction
George Sawaya
George Sawaya
Stunt Double
Roy Webb
Roy Webb
Additional Music
Leith Stevens
Leith Stevens
Additional Music

Popular Reviews

19 reviews
districtuv
districtuv
7.0★ · 03/15/26
The Narrow Margin
what a great use of time fitting a lot of different things into just over an hour, movies set on a train have me hooked instantly
what a great use of time fitting a lot of different things into just over an hour, movies set on a train have me hooked instantly
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Erik Olsson
Erik Olsson
8.0★ · 03/14/26
The Narrow Margin
Just an incredibly solid noir that's short, to the point, and still manages to surprise and impress.
Just an incredibly solid noir that's short, to the point, and still manages to surprise and impress.
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Isaac Howson
Isaac Howson
7.0★ · 03/07/25
The Narrow Margin
An enjoyable and brief thriller. More of these movies should have had comically fat cops.
An enjoyable and brief thriller. More of these movies should have had comically fat cops.
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Amanda
Amanda
6.0★ · 05/16/26
The Narrow Margin
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narraps
narraps
8.0★ · 05/15/26
The Narrow Margin
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The Narrow Margin (1952) | Flick