The Narrow Margin (1952)

A Los Angeles cop (Charles McGraw) is assigned the task of accompanying a gangster's hard boiled widow (Marie Windsor) on a train from Chicago to L.A. The mob is after her because she has a payoff list that can incriminate them. Directed by Richard Fleischer (20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA), this classic example of film noir is a lean (not an ounce of fat, i.e. padding out the story) thriller. The economical screenplay by Earl Felton was justifiably Oscar nominated and Fleischer pushes the action forward at an intense pace. I'm a big fan of thrillers and murder mysteries set on trains and this ranks with the best. The performances are good right down the line with noir icons McGraw and Windsor pitch perfect. I was a bit disappointed that Windsor's character was pretty much ignored after her final scene considering what she's been through but this is a film without sentiment. Unusual for a film of its day, it has no underscore. Remade in 1990 but with significant changes. With Jacqueline White, Don Beddoe, Queenie Leonard and Peter Virgo.