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Gene Hackman, Anne Archer, James B. Sikking, J.T. Walsh, M. Emmet Walsh ... see more see more... , Susan Hogan , Nigel Bennett , J.A. Preston , Harris Yulin , Natino Bellantoni , Lindsay Bourne , Ron Cummins , Lon Katzman , Tom McBeath , Kevin McNulty , Barney O'Sullivan , Doreen Ramos , Andrew Rhodes , Robert Rozen , Barbara Russell , B.A. "Smitty" Smith , Ted Stidder , Dana Still , Codie Lucas Wilbee , Lesley Ewan , Antony Holland

Narrow Margin directed by Peter Hyams and loosely based on the classic film noir of the same title, tells the story of a resourceful District Attorney who must return a witness to San Francisco alive ... read more read more...so she can testify in a trial. Carol (Anne Archer) is in the bathroom of the hotel room of her blind date when he is murdered by mobsters for stealing money. Knowing she is the only witness, Carol flees to an isolated Canadian mountain home to hide out. She is followed by Caulfield (Gene Hackman) who knows that she is a witness and wants to make her testify. When the mobsters track Caulfield to the cabin, Carol must join him in a run for her life on a Canadian train. This film, while it is somewhat uneven, is a tour de force for director/writer/cinematographer Peter Hyams, who delivers a fast-paced, action-packed chase through the Canadian mountains, stunningly photographed and well acted by both Hackman and Archer. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

Flixster Users

42% liked it

2,626 ratings

Critics

58% liked it

12 critics

R, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Peter Hyams

Release Date: September 21, 1990

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DVD Release Date: August 17, 1999

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Stats: 102 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (102)

  • garyX
    July 14, 2007
    garyX
    A 50s film noir is remade into a by the numbers thriller. Not terrible, but there's nothing here we haven't seen a hundred times before.
  • deano
    December 14, 2006
    deano
    A fine thriller in a train with Gene Hackman and Anne Archer have to play cat-and-mouse with the thugs who've boarded it to eliminate them.
  • Fascade518
    January 14, 2010
    Fascade518
    What an incredible gripping tale of the limits a man will go to protect a witness to the prosecution of a murder case. This is one edge of your seat thriller that gently lets go of your emotions at the very end.
  • threefolddado
    June 3, 2008
    threefolddado
    Nowhere near as good as the original.
  • irregularlogic
    December 26, 2008
    irregularlogic
    This film hooked my interest from almost the very beginning. While the premise was interesting, the actual script and execution left something to be desired. The dialog wasn't exactly bad but it wasn't great either. I enjoyed Gene Hackman's performance along with Anne Archer's bu... read moret...I'm not sure if it was the script or if the actors decided to just do a bare minimum, run-of-the-mill job. I think their performances reflected the quality of writing. Don't get me wrong - I like both Hackman & Archer. This movie, though, just didn't take advantage of their real potential. I thought the actors portraying the assassins did a rather nice job. All in all, I'm glad I watched this film because it was a bit suspenseful...but I'm also glad I didn't pay to see it in the theater.

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Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary
January 26, 2006
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

This remake is a terrific suspense-thriller in its own right. Ranks with other underrated Peter Hyams films such as Capricorn One, Outland and The Star Chamber as one his best.

Rob Thomas
June 23, 2005
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)

Nifty little thriller-on-rails.

Clint Morris
May 6, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

One of the most underrated suspense thrillers of the 90's

Nell Minow
April 18, 2003
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

A gem of a thriller.

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

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Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

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Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

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Desson Thomson
January 1, 2000
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

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Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

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