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Crime thriller

The Narrow Margin (1952): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch

The Narrow Margin (1952) movie poster

The Narrow Margin is a 1952 crime thriller directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Charles McGraw as Det. Sgt. Walter Brown, Don Haggerty and Don Beddoe. It runs 1 hour 11 minutes. Stream it on YouTube TV, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Where to watch Watch the trailer
The Narrow Margin (1952) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 11m (71 min)
Director
Richard Fleischer
Genres
Crime , Thriller
Original language
English
Studio
RKO Radio Pictures
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Narrow Margin About?

The premise of The Narrow Margin without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Tasked with protecting a gangster’s widow during a cross‑country train ride from Chicago to Los Angeles, a hard‑nosed cop finds the job more dangerous than expected. Success means a hefty reward—“a fortune if they seal her lips”—while failure could cost him his life, “a bullet if they fail.”

The Narrow Margin Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • train
  • witness protection
  • train station
  • single mother
  • murder
  • widow
  • police detective
  • shot in the back
  • shootout
  • police officer
  • mistaken identity
  • los angeles california
+38 more
  • la junta colorado
  • chicago illinois
  • attempted bribery
  • albuquerque new mexico
  • deception
  • henchman
  • crime syndicate
  • train emergency brake
  • spilling a drink on someone's lap
  • reflection in a window
  • woman
  • shot through a door
  • railroad detective
  • rht stockings
  • train porter
  • obesity
  • wager
  • gangster crime
  • undercover operation
  • broken mirror
  • fight
  • cigarette smoking
  • pearl necklace
  • reporter
  • child in jeopardy
  • police chase
  • phonograph
  • organized crime
  • clothesline
  • railroad crossing
  • train order hoop
  • mob hit
  • restroom
  • staircase
  • handcuffs
  • police officer killed
  • nanny
  • telegraph office
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Narrow Margin

Stream it on YouTube TV, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Stream 1

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Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Narrow Margin Cast & Characters

Charles McGraw leads the cast as Det. Sgt. Walter Brown, with Don Haggerty as Det. Wilson (uncredited) and Don Beddoe as Det. Sgt. Gus Forbes. Directed by Richard Fleischer; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Narrow Margin

· 14 more
Plot

The Narrow Margin Plot Summary

What happens in The Narrow Margin from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On a tense train journey from Chicago to Los Angeles, Det. Sgt. Walter Brown [Charles McGraw] and his partner, Det. Sgt. Gus Forbes [Don Beddoe], are assigned to protect Frankie Neall [Marie Windsor], the widow of a mob boss, who is traveling to testify before a grand jury. She also carries a payoff list that belonged to her murdered husband, and the mob will stop at nothing to intercept it. The threat of interception hangs over every car as the carriages roll toward California, and Brown knows that the mob will try to twist fate to recover the list.

Full summary

The whole story of The Narrow Margin, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Narrow Margin Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Narrow Margin.

Narrow Margin 1952 Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Narrow Margin?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

Which two detectives are assigned to protect the widow on the train?
Details

The Narrow Margin Also Known As

12 alternative titles, including “L'énigme du Chicago Express” and “Le jene di Chicago”.

Also known as
  • L'énigme du Chicago Express
  • Le jene di Chicago
  • Testigo accidental
  • Um Haaresbreite
  • Hajszál híján
  • Estrecho margen
  • Rumo ao Inferno
  • Узкая грань
  • 익스프레스
  • その女を殺せ
  • 狭窄边缘
  • Un marge estret, ვიწრო ზღვარი

Seen The Narrow Margin?
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Movies Like The Narrow Margin

Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Narrow Margin, The Narrowing Circle and The Narrow Trail.

FAQ

The Narrow Margin FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of The Narrow Margin, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Narrow Margin?

The Narrow Margin runs 1 hour 11 minutes (71 minutes).

When was The Narrow Margin released?

The Narrow Margin was released on April 25, 1952.

Who directed The Narrow Margin?

The Narrow Margin was directed by Richard Fleischer.

More films by Richard Fleischer

Who is in the cast of The Narrow Margin?

The Narrow Margin stars Charles McGraw as Det. Sgt. Walter Brown, Don Haggerty as Det. Wilson (uncredited) and Don Beddoe as Det. Sgt. Gus Forbes, among 18 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Narrow Margin?

In the US, The Narrow Margin is streaming on YouTube TV and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

Does The Narrow Margin have a post-credit scene?

No. The Narrow Margin has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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