 |
|
|
|
The Narrow Margin (1952)
 email this review to a friend
FILM NOIR EXCELLENCE
Favorite Movie Quote: "She's a Dish. A 60 cent Special. Cheap. Flashy. Strictly poison under the gravy."
ALL ABOARD!!....Toot!!...Toot!!........Get Ready!!!!........'Cause here comes the sleek and shiny 'SUPERCHIEF'......Toot!....Toot!..... And this mighty powerful locomotive is now reving up its engine, getting ready to embark on a non-stop thrill-ride across the USA, from CHICAGO to L.A.
THE NARROW MARGIN (TNM) is an excellent example of early 50's Film Noir. When it comes to Film Noir, they don't get much better than this one. I know. I've pretty much seen 'em all.
In TNM CHARLES McGRAW, a favourite Film Noir Tough Guy of mine, plays a rugged, no-nonsense, L.A. cop named Brown. CHARLES McGRAW is a real champion at playing a 'tough' no matter what side of the law he happens to be on. Brown's assignment in CHICAGO is to safely transport a murdered mobster's moll back to L.A. to attend a much-publicized trial where she is playing the key witness for the prosecution. The Lords of the Underworld want this woman dead.
TNM's action is immediately rolling merrily along even before the SUPERCHIEF has pulled out of the CHICAGO trainyard. There are no delays or letting up in the excitement with this flick. And as luck would have it, Sgt. Brown and the woman he's escorting, Mrs. Neal, are continually menaced by your usual assortment of greasy, trigger-happy hit-men. Death-threats abound. Bullets fly. And punches are readily exchanged. McGRAW delivers his share of the blows like a true prize fighter.
About 90% of TNM's breath-taking action takes place on the speeding SUPERCHIEF. It's here where the excitement really shifts into high gear. The unrelenting suspense rises to a fever-pitch as Sgt. Brown plays a deadly game of cat and mouse with a pack of slimy thugs who'll stop at nothing to eliminate the star witness, Mrs. Neal.
At only 70 minutes in length TNM packs one hell of a wallop that races along at break-neck speeds of up to 100 mph. TNM is pure, satisfying entertainment from the glorious 50's that doesn't let up from start to finish.
email this review to a friend
Comment on this Review:
Sorry, you must be a member to add comments to reviews.
Join or Login. |
 Subscribe to MatchFlick Movie Reviews through RSS
|
