Narrow Margin

Narrow Margin

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	1990 (1990)
Founder	Peter Hyams (writer and director)
Products	Neo-noir action thriller film

Narrow Margin is a 1990 American neo-noir action thriller film both written and directed by Peter Hyams. The movie features performances by Gene Hackman and Anne Archer, supported by James B. Sikking, Nigel Bennett, Harris Yulin, and J. T. Walsh. Distributed by TriStar Pictures on September 21, 1990, this film serves as a remake of the 1952 The Narrow Margin and represents the first of two RKO reinterpretations by Hyams, followed later by 2009's Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.

The narrative follows Los Angeles deputy district attorney Robert Caulfield, who is tasked with safeguarding murder witness Carol Hunnicut from assassins aboard a train traveling through the Canadian Rockies. While the remake updates the setting and modifies certain character relationships, it retains the fundamental storyline.

Plot

In Los Angeles, Carol Hunnicut, an editor, becomes an eyewitness to the killing of her attorney Michael Tarlow at the hands of a hitman working for crime lord Leo Watts after Tarlow is exposed for embezzling from Watts. Recognizing the danger to her life, Hunnicut escapes to a remote cabin in the Canadian Rockies, leaving her son with his father.

Police sergeant Dominick Benti locates her and informs deputy district attorney and ex-Marine Robert Caulfield. Ignoring instructions, Caulfield flies to the cabin, but an assault by Watts' henchmen results in the deaths of both the pilot and Benti. Caulfield and Hunnicut manage to board a train heading to Vancouver, securing a private compartment despite being pursued.

Caulfield attempts to coordinate police protection through his office but uncovers that fellow deputy DA James Dahlbeck is corrupt and collaborating with Watts. After confrontations with gunmen Nelson and Jack Wootton, Caulfield rejects bribes and also protects another passenger, Kathryn Weller, from being mistaken for Hunnicut.

Railroad policeman Keller reveals his identity but is killed before he can warn authorities about Dahlbeck’s treachery. Forced onto the train’s roof, Caulfield fends off assassins attempting to eliminate them. Kathryn Weller is unveiled as another assassin but falls off during a tunnel passage. The story concludes with Hunnicut testifying in court against Watts regarding Tarlow’s murder.

Development

Peter Hyams was inspired to remake The Narrow Margin after viewing it on late-night television and initially pursued rights through Paramount Pictures, although the project eventually shifted to another studio. Hyams was attracted to the premise of characters confined on a train despite having reservations about the original film’s quality. Jonathan Zimbert, who advanced from Hyams’ assistant to producer, played an integral role in developing the project. Among those overseeing production was future director Bob Misiorowski. The film’s budget was estimated between $15 million and $21 million.

Writing

To appeal to late 1980s audiences less acquainted with train travel, the story’s setting was moved to the Canadian wilderness, intensifying dramatic tension by restricting escape routes; although relocating it to the Mexican desert was considered, it was dismissed due to concerns about plausibility regarding how the main characters could remain concealed. The filmmakers emphasized that only the title connected this version to its predecessor, asserting that it featured an original story and characters—a position that drew criticism from original director Richard Fleischer, who pointed out significant similarities and contrasted production budgets between both versions.

Casting

Gene Hackman, the lead actor, engaged in numerous conversations with director Peter Hyams over several years before committing to the role. He was particularly attracted to Caulfield's composed nature and his preference for nonviolence, which stood in stark contrast to the usual aggressive protagonists in adventure films. Hackman added nuanced touches such as the character’s glasses and the use of a water pistol to emphasize this tranquil persona. Anne Archer joined the cast after deciding not to participate in the erotic thriller Wild Orchid. Susan Hogan earned her role due to her performance in the Canadian drama Night Heat, a series favored by Hyams, who personally chose her after reviewing her audition tapes.

Train

The movie prominently features The Canadian, a transcontinental train service running since 1955 between Toronto and Vancouver, widely recognized as Canada’s premier rail journey. Nevertheless, Via Rail, the national rail company, refused to lease passenger cars because of reservations exceeding capacity, offering only a locomotive and a baggage car. The production sourced the remaining train cars from various providers: a Colorado leasing firm, a private collector from Texas, and provincial carrier BC Rail. These cars were then refurbished and repainted to accurately replicate the original train’s appearance.

Filming

The production was coordinated by International Production Services. Principal photography commenced on June 12, 1989, with Variety reporting completion by October of that year. The final filming phase in October concentrated on stunt sequences, by which time the main cast had already returned to Los Angeles. Several sets were constructed specifically for the film, including Carol’s cabin on Grouse Mountain and two separate train stations. Although Lac des Arcs in Alberta is an actual location, it lacks a railway station; thus, the fictional Monashee station was built at Porteau. Interior shots of the train were filmed on a set inside a Vancouver warehouse mounted on an inflatable platform designed to mimic the motion of a moving train.

Most scenes involving the train were shot near Garibaldi Park using tracks owned by BC Rail to avoid interfering with busy Via Rail operations. The climactic sequences atop the train took three weeks to film between Howe Sound and Cheakamus Canyon close to Squamish, British Columbia, with filming hours restricted due to traffic regulations. The lead actors performed some rooftop stunts themselves while secured by hidden cables; this marked Anne Archer’s first experience performing stunt work.

Box office

Narrow Margin premiered in the United States on September 21, 1990, debuting at number four during its opening weekend with $3.6 million in ticket sales. It eventually earned $10.9 million domestically. In the United Kingdom, its release on January 18, 1991, resulted in similarly underwhelming box office returns. Gene Hackman later reflected on the film’s modest commercial performance, admitting it "didn't do very well" and "didn't catch on."

Home video

In March 1991, Carolco’s subsidiary Live Entertainment released Narrow Margin on home video in the U.S. The title gained significant popularity in rental outlets, entering the Billboard rental charts’ top ten during its third week and sustaining that ranking for four consecutive weeks.

Optimum Releasing brought out a DVD edition on February 12, 2007, which included special features such as an audio commentary by director Peter Hyams, behind-the-scenes footage, a documentary segment, and interviews with cast and crew members. On June 30, 2020, Kino Lorber reissued the film on Blu-ray featuring a new 4K master; this release preserved previous extras and added commentary from film historian Peter Tonguette.

Festivals

Narrow Margin was showcased at the London Film Festival in November 1990 before its general release across the U.K. Additionally, it was included in a 1991 summer retrospective on train-themed cinema held at New York's Museum of Modern Art, titled "Junction and Journey: Trains and Film."

Reception

The film has a 63% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 16 critic reviews, with an average score of 6.0/10. On Metacritic, it earned a score of 53% from 23 critics, reflecting "mixed or average reviews." Audience feedback collected by CinemaScore resulted in a "B+" grade.

Contemporary

Critical responses were varied. Owen Gleiberman assigned a grade of C, describing the film as "a thinly scripted procession of train-movie clichés," though he commended Hyams for effectively incorporating live actors in the concluding scenes. Sheila Benson of the Los Angeles Times pointed out the shallow character development but appreciated both the closing sequence and Archer's performance. Chris Hicks from the Deseret News praised Hyams' direction of action and stunts but criticized the characters’ unrealistic behavior and labeled the storyline as contrived. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times expressed a strongly negative view, dismissing the concept and awarding it 1.5 out of 4 stars.

Conversely, Peter Stack of the San Francisco Chronicle offered a more favorable opinion, acknowledging occasional cheesiness but valuing its escapist qualities and plot twists. Tom Tunney from Empire called it a "sometimes witty time-filler" with a well-executed finale, though not as menacing as its predecessor. Desson Howe of the Washington Post found some artificial plot elements effective and described it as "entertaining to watch." Hal Lipper from the St. Petersburg Times regarded it as "a crackling good thriller" that emphasized character development over spectacle.

Retrospective

Subsequent reviews have been predominantly positive. Mike Cumming at AllMovie acknowledged the "hackneyed storyline" but noted that the action sequences maintain viewer engagement. Brian Wester from Apollo Movie Guide praised its sharp screenplay along with strong performances by Hackman and the supporting cast. Tyler Foster of DVD Talk highlighted Hyams’ directorial expertise and Hackman’s versatility beyond his typical tough-guy persona.

Rob Hunter of SlashFilm considered it "equally thrilling" compared to the original, complimenting both character depth and action scenes. Matthew Hartman from High Def Digest observed that the film withstands repeated viewing despite predictable twists. Matt Holmes of WhatCulture described it as "a commendable effort" and Hyams' most polished work. Blu-ray.com's Svet Atanasov lauded its relentless pace, noting only occasional superfluous humor, ultimately deeming it an exceptional film.

Soundtrack

The musical score was composed and produced by Bruce Broughton, who had previously collaborated with Hyams on The Presidio. The Hollywood Symphony Orchestra performed under Broughton's baton. Although no official soundtrack accompanied the film's release, selected pieces appeared on a 1999 Intrada Records compilation, with a more comprehensive edition issued on CD in 2004 as part of Intrada's Special Collection series. Some recorded cues were rejected by Hyams, whom Broughton described as "very demanding."