A 1990 American neo-noir action thriller written and directed by Peter Hyams that has a L.A. Deputy D.A. (Gene Hackman) being assigned to protect a woman (Anne Archer) after she accidentally witnesses a murder while on a date.
The movie also stars James B. Sikking, J. T. Walsh, M. Emmet Walsh, Susan Hogan, Nigel Bennett, JA Preston, and Harris Yulin.
It was released on September 21, 1990.
Tropes for the film:
- Bluff the Impostor: Robert tells a pair of "RCMP officers" that he might have the guys who've been pursuing him and his witness all over a train "on a 374". They agree, which tips him off to their being fake. 374 is "indecent exposure".
- Da Chief: An interesting variation in Martin Larner, the soft-spoken L.A. chief deputy D.A. - meaning that he'd also answer to the D.A., but is still Robert Caulfield's superior - who vetoes his risky plan on the grounds that it could fall through and let the villain walk on trail; Robert promptly accuses him of being publicity-hungry. Roger Ebert, in the review that would also codify
Idiot Plot, was moved to discuss the trope and its shortcomings
:One of the newest cliches in the movies is the use of a black actor to play the obstructionist superior officer in a police drama. How many times have we seen the hero called on the carpet in the office of his superior, a black man who orders him to stop hot-dogging around? This character is invariably wrong-headed and obtuse. "Narrow Margin" introduces a character like that, who then disappears except for mention in a phone call. In the bad old days, black actors were often cast in menial roles. Now they are cast as token superiors, but the stereotyping is just as relentless. What's the worse role, pushing a broom, or being kicked upstairs? Why not let some of these actors into the mainstream of the plot? - I Want You to Meet an Old Friend of Mine: Hackman and Yulin previously worked together on Night Moves.
- Low Clearance: When Robert Caulfield and Carol Hunnicut, the witness he's protecting are confronted on the train roof by a Professional Killer.Robert: You know what I like about you? You're tall. [train enters a tunnel].
- Pillow Pregnancy: On the run from mob killers, Carol sticks her hands in the pockets of her jacket and pushes it out to make herself look pregnant, so Robert can talk to an elderly couple into giving up their private cabin so they can hide out of sight.
- Tagline: "Sometimes the difference between life and death can be a Narrow Margin".
