Writer/Director/Cinematographer Peter Hyams amps up the action and tension in his remake of the film noir classic Narrow Margin. Kino Lorber upgrades the title to 4K UHD with a new scan of the negative and extras features.
The Film
Triple threat Director Peter Hyams (he also shot and wrote the film) smart adaptation of the noir classic Narrow Margin makes all the right choices to turn the film into a tense action thriller. Starring Gene Hackman and Anne Archer on the run from assassins out to kill them both aboard a train.
The film running a lean 97 minutes with credits somehow feels both economical and leisurely. We get just enough time with Carol Hunnicut (Archer) and Deputy DA Robert Caufield (Hackman) to understand the stakes and invest in both of their plight. Narrow Margin understands the ebbs and flows of an action film and the importance of setting the table. Once the film starts its action it literally starts it with a bang and becomes an unrelenting run for survival for our leads.
Hackman and Archer are engaging as the duo on the run. Thankfully, there isn’t sexual tension or hinting at romance. Hackman is excellent, when is he ever not, as the out-of-his-element Deputy DA. The film has Hackman use his wits more than his fists much to the benefit of the film. Same with Archer whose low-key terror is a refreshing turn for a role that could have been a “damsel in distress” cliché. It also helps that Archer’s performance, as is usual for her, is the gold standard of a Woman with a capital “W” rather than someone trying to play younger than they really are.
It isn’t only Hackman and Archer that do elevated work. Supporting work by JT Walsh, Emmet Walsh, Susan Hogan, Harris Yulin, and JA Preston take roles that could have been one-note and give that extra push that makes the film all the better. However, it’s James B Sikking as the ice-cold assassin Nelson who steals the show. Hackman and Nelson have more than a few scenes where they see who can underact one another with lowkey machismo. One could watch the two play against one another in a film double Narrow Margin’s length.
Make no mistake, Hyams has created a propulsive tense action film that hits surprisingly harder than one would think that have not seen it. Beginning with a traffic helicopter car chase and ending with a fistfight atop the train there is nothing here that isn’t done physically. Hyams and his crack team of stunt performers and coordinators have built a truly wonderfully adept action film that feels as dangerous as anything that Tom Cruise does.
Narrow Margin is a surprising and smart top-notch action thriller.
The Transfer
The SDR UHD Master by StudioCanal – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is an elevated beautiful image. Though some would complain about the lack of an HDR but one wonders because of the already darkened image and the wonderful contrast and black levels inherent in the image there wasn’t a need or want to temp fate. The transfer is still wonderfully verbose in its color reproduction and sharpness of the image. There is nary a scratch or blemish on the image. This is definitely a step up from the 2020 Blu-ray (also released by Kino).
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- Audio Commentary by Cinematographer/Screenwriter/Director Peter Hyams
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Critic Peter Tonguette
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- Audio Commentary by Cinematographer/Screenwriter/Director Peter Hyams
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Critic Peter Tonguette
- Making-of Featurette
- Selected Sound Bites & B-Rolls
- Theatrical Trailer
NOTE: The only special feature that appears on the 4K UHD disc are the commentary tracks.
The archival Audio Commentary by Cinematographer/Screenwriter/Director Peter Hyams begins with how he came to direct the remake Narrow Margin (note his commentary track doesn’t begin until after the credit sequence or around 2:55 marks). Some of the details include the first person he gave the script to read and the notes he got from that very famous TV Writer/Producer; working with Anne Archer and Gene Hackman – and their very different methodology when it comes to acting; the practical FX work done to show someone get shot in the head; the score from Bruce Broughton; working with M Emmet Walsh; his use of the name Robert Caufield in many of the film – and why he did so; the trouble it took to build the log cabin Archer’s character is hiding in; the trouble with filming the helicopter chase scene – including the various techniques and equipment used to accomplish it; working with James B Sikking – both here and previous features; the process shots throughout the film – how this was accomplished on stage, the importance of lighting, camera placement, et. al.; the reason that he cast Susan Hogan in her specific role; the work of costume designer Ellen Mirojnick; a larger discussion throughout about Hackman and what separates a great actor like him and other lesser ones; a larger discussion throughout about working as both a director and cinematographer; a larger discussion of the troubles and details about staging scenes; and much more. Hyam’s commentary track is filled with the kind of information about the production, directing, and more than one could want. Note there are bouts of silence throughout BUT Hyam’s track is so filled with great discussions about the production it makes it worth.
The archival Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Critic Peter Tonguette opens with his own credits and discusses that Hyams is a subject he considered to write a book about. Some of the other details include the great opening credit sequence – and how they line up with the trends in credits at the time; the work of Anne Archer both here and through her career; the work of JT Walsh; the visual tricks that Hyams used to “open up” the film; the helicopter chase and what makes it so visually striking; the work of Gene Hackman and what made the star so great in this role; the various train-set films and where Narrow Margin lines up within the specific sub-genre; a larger discussion throughout of Hyams as a cinematographer and director – discussing the various techniques used and shot compositions that help tell the story visually; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear in the film and how they contribute to the film’s elevated approach; and much more. Tonguette provides another informative track about the film and those who helped produce the film.
Making-of Featurette (5:09) – this vintage EPK-style featurette has the actors, via on-set interviews, discussing/selling the plot and tension of this intelligent action thriller. Comments by Archer, Hackman, James B Sikking, Hyams, and others. Includes some great b-roll footage.
Selected Sound Bites (9:45) – selected “sound bites” that are in an abbreviated form in the Making-of Featurette. Includes interviews with Hackman, Archer, Sikking, and Hyams.
B-Rolls (9:35) – this is the true goldmine. The b-roll footage that was hinted at in the making-of featurette. The footage is from the final action scene atop the train; filming footage from a helicopter; the confrontation in the train between Sikking and Hackman; and other odds and ends. This is truly great for anyone who loves to see the actual filmmaking process without comment or context.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Narrow Margin (2:01); Prime Cut (2:34); The Package (2:19); Company Business (2:03)
The Final Thought
Narrow Margin is the prime example of what makes Kino Lorber great. Underseen gem of an action film given a 4K UHD release filled with great extras. Highest Possible Recommendations!!!