“5 Minutes to Live” aka “Door-to-Door Maniac” (1961) starring Johnny Cash & Vic Tayback / Z-View

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5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961)

Director:  Bill Karn

Screenplay:  Cay Forrester

Stars: Johnny Cash, Donald Woods, Cay Forester, Midge Ware, Merle Travis, Vic Tayback, Norma Varden, Hanna Landy, Howard Wright and Ron Howard.

Tagline: Introducing JOHNNY CASH, America’s top-recording star, as a lusty, romantic, guitar singing powerhouse

The Plot…

Fred Dorella and cold-blooded killer Johnny Cabot have a fool-proof way to rob a bank.  Johnny will take the bank Vice-president’s wife, Nancy hostage.  If the bank’s VP gives Fred $70k, Fred will call Johnny who will release Nancy.  If the bank’s VP doesn’t turn over the cash, Fred will call Johnny who will kill Nancy.

What Fred and Johnny didn’t count on, is the bank’s VP having an affair.  If the crooks kill his wife, he’ll be free!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

5 Minutes to Live was rereleased in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac.

Cay Forester, the female lead, wrote the screenplay.

Johnny Cash (in his film debut) teamed with Vic Tayback (of the television comedy Alice fame) as the bank robbers.  Ronnie Howard who played Opie on The Andy Griffith Show plays the son of bank vice president.

If you enjoy low budget crime thrillers, then give 5 Minutes to Live a shot.

5 Minutes to Live aka Door-to-Door Maniac (1961) rates 3 of 5 stars