Noch fünf Minuten zu leben

Imagine that! A low budget film that feature Johnny Cash as a killer who serenades his victims! DOOR TO DOOR MANIAC (aka FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE) features then up and coming Johnny Cash as cold blooded killer Johnny Cabot. Johnny is talked into an unusual bank hiest, where Johnny has to hold a bank executive's wife hostage. Complications arise with the executive's mistress, son (Played by Ron "Grinch" Howard) and a couple of bank employees who think they can become heroes! The acting in this film borders community theatre, except for Cash, who is wonderfully cold-blooded as the villian. He has these wild, wild spurts, where he prances around his prey, spouts Tarantino-like tough talk with ease, and gives out with these wonderful eye gestures. Some of the more experienced supporting cast have their moments, such as Vic Tayback, as the accomplice. One of the true joys of my crazy video collection.

This movie is worth seeing for Johnny Cash's performance as a sadistic hit-man, but beyond that its pretty enjoyable. It loses steam a little bit here and there because they attempt to insert some "Leave it To Beaver" style family comedy, but overall its a sharp little suspense film. Cash is really the highlight, and you get the feeling that he really enjoyed and relished his role as the sleazy hit-man Johnny Cabot. The scenes where he runs amock and harasses the housewife are great. Johnny was a real-life badass at this time, and he imbues his character with startling realism. Again, the lame attempts at feel-good family humor seem out of place and take away from the overall nasty feeling of the film, but Johnny's performance and the plot itself make this a film worth seeing!

I had never heard of this flick before I discovered it at the dollar store. It was only a buck so i had to get it and I can definitely say it was worth the money. I almost feel as if i should go back to the store and insist they let me pay them so more(it was that worth it to me) Johnny Cash's hair is perfect it's almost another character altogether. When he gets mad it gets mad and when he's cool it stays cool. And it stays cool most of the films as Johnny Cash does a good job playing the well dressed bad guy. The guitar playing is really interesting and kind of creepy. Creepy because who wouldn't be a little freaked out by a guy whose been sent to kill you; singing and playing the guitar? I liked the story line, of course it's very dated being as it was a low budget film made in 1961; but it was still enjoyable. I also really liked Vic Tayback's performance. I know he's been in a lot of things but I only really remember him when he was fat and balding Mel Sharples on ALICE. Seeing him in this movie made me want to look for some other stuff he's in. Also, little Ronnie Howard is adorable!

Reasonably taut thriller concerning a twisted killer (Cash) recruited by crook (Tayback) to hold the wife (Forrester) of a bank manager (Woods) hostage at their house while Tayback extorts $70k at the bank for the safe release of the wife - confirmed by a series of phone calls at five minute intervals. Complications emerge when the bank manager proves reluctant to pay the ransom, seeing an opportunity to become free of his wife and take up with his mistress (Mason).

Co-star Forrester's script is functional, perhaps predictably giving her domestic characters more depth than usual, her performance benefiting from the extra attention in the dialogue. Cash isn't really an actor, though his offbeat expressions, timing and other attributes (serenading his victims with songs) manage to conjure something akin to a psychopath. Renowned tough-guy Tayback delivers his trademark mobster with all the expected motifs and the attractive Midge Ware has a brief role as Cash's ill-fated moll.

As far as unconventional casting of singers in movies go, this is somewhere between Neil Sedaka's bizarre appearance in "The Playgirl Killer" and a traditional Elvis Presley vehicle. And while there's no arbitrary album previews (the singing is short and in context), there remain a few extraneous interactions to pad out the modest 74 minutes in what could have been a more compact 30-minute TV episode. Nevertheless, there's some genuinely palpable tension and decent performances from Forrester, Tayback, Mason and even Ron Howard as the precocious son in an unexpected, pivotal supporting role.

This film is best remembered for the fact that it stars country legend Johnny Cash is his first film role. This actually lowered my expectations for the film, as I'm not a massive fan of Cash and films that go down in history for the casting of a non-actor are often not very good...but this film has far more going for it than it's lead actor, and overall I've got to say that it's criminal that this hasn't won itself a more esteemed place in cinema history. It's clear that the film was shot on a very low budget as it features a very grainy black and white picture, a small central cast and some suspect acting from all corners; but all this stuff doesn't matter, as the screenplay is well written and there's a lot of fun to be had with this film. The plot follows a couple of guys who think they've discovered the perfect get rich quick scheme. One of them pretends to be a salesman in order to get into the house of the president of the women's association, while the other one pretends to be a customer at her husband's bank. After explaining the situation to her husband, they offer him a trade; his money or his wife.

Overall, it has to be said that this little thriller isn't very original as there have been a lot of films in this same vein; but Bill Karn's film approaches it's subject with a fresh view, and the way that the director continually ensures the tone is always bleak provides a major highlight. It's easy to believe that the central character is in danger through Cash's loose cannon performance, and the way that the action focuses on two central locations; the family home and the bank, ensures that the plot always takes centre stage, and it is made interesting through its memorable cast of characters. Even though Cash wasn't predominantly an actor, his performance is really good and the way that the director lets him play his guitar makes best use of him. And on a personal note, I think it's good of Cash to put himself at risk to play a sadistic maniacal character. The rest of the support cast play second fiddle to the musical genius, but each one gives a good turn and this ensures that the film is elevated above its low budget thriller status. It all boils down to an exciting and satisfying climax that both deals fitting comeuppance, and rounds it all off nicely. Overall, this film is well worth tracking down and comes highly recommended!