The Narrow Margin

The Narrow Margin
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRichard Fleischer
Screenplay byEarl Felton
Story byMartin Goldsmith
Jack Leonard
Produced byStanley Rubin
StarringCharles McGraw
Marie Windsor
Jacqueline White
CinematographyGeorge E. Diskant
Edited byRobert Swink
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Pictures
Release date
  • May 2, 1952 (1952-05-02)
Running time
71 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$230,000

The Narrow Margin is a 1952 American thriller film noir directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Charles McGraw, Marie Windsor, and Jacqueline White. The RKO picture was written by Earl Felton, based on an unpublished story by Martin Goldsmith and Jack Leonard. In the film, Detective Sergeant Walter Brown (McGraw) plays a deadly game of cat-and-mouse aboard a train with mob assassins out to stop Frankie Neall (Windsor), a slain gangster's widow, before she can testify before a grand jury.

The film was released by RKO on May 2, 1952. Though originally produced as a B movie, it was a surprise critical and commercial success, and was nominated for an Best Story at the 25th Academy Awards. A remake, Narrow Margin, was released in 1990.