An excellent brief review (with plot spoilers) of The Narrow Margin on the ever-useful films noir web site. I personally classify this film as a police procedural, not a genuine film noir -- which I think helps explain why the treatment of the apparent femme fatale, played by Marie Windsor, is so unsatisfying. Femmes fatales serve no real dramatic purpose in a police procedural -- they're just, if anything, red herrings . . . and who wants to see Marie Windsor treated as a red herring?
Meanwhile Joe D'Augustine from Film Forno sends this comment on Odds Against Tomorrow:
"This is a great movie! One of Jean Pierre Melville's favorites. Ryan and Belafonte are amazing. Bravo to HB for financing it, that took guts and no wonder it dealt with the frustrations of a black American male so honestly. It was also one of the first films edited by DeDe Allen, her next was The Hustler. The old cop who got screwed out of his pension is excellent as well. Ed Begley, Is he corrupt or was he turned corrupt by a corrupt system? I guess he is on a friendly basis with the bookie/gangster. And he is the mastermind of the big steal. Great locations, it is one of Wise's best! He really made all kinds of films and made them well."