Five Minutes to Live (1961)

This film is not classified as a Film Noir on iMDB.com, and I can’t tell you why for the love of me[1]. It fits squarely in the classic Film Noir time frame. The movie is told in flashback by a suspect in a police interrogation. Stylistically, the film is dark. The main bad guy only wears black. It deals with complex themes of social bullying, assault, murder, robbery, and infidelity. The film also has acute angles as the heroine fears for her life.

Most importantly, this film exhibits a fear of existential dread. Can crime come to your front door even though you have done everything correctly but others around you have failed?.

Playing the homicidal kidnapper is one of the greatest country singers ever. I already mentioned that he only wore black in the film. Also in this film is a beloved television star from two major American sitcoms. He also made his mark as a director. The gangster narrating this story is a star from another beloved American sitcom that you will recognize immediately from one catchphrase.

Intro – Five Minutes to Live (1961)

Hello to all of the classic people that are returning. I am glad you are back. I want to welcome any new visitors. Today, on Classic Movie Review, we are taking on Five Minutes to Live (1961). This film was rereleased in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac (1966). I was really excited when I discovered this film. Wow! A Film Noir starring Johnny Cash. Well, not quite. As I said before, it is not officially a Film Noir on the database. But it is for me.

This film is very short running around 75 minutes. It is not great and except for watching John Cash play a pretty convincing manic, I would recommend watching it. However, most of the actors are pretty good except for Donald Woods who seemed like a cutout version of Hugh Marlowe. This film has a pretty low 5.5 rating on iMDB.com[2]. On Rottentomatoes.com, it does not have a Tomatometer score and has a terrible 32 percent audience approval[3]. I could not locate any contemporary reviews.  

Actors – Five Minutes to Live (1961)

Returning

Ron Howard played young boy Bobby Wilson. We have been with Howard since “The Andy Griffith Show” 1960-1968, “Happy Days” 1974-1984, and American Graffiti (1973). Man, that guy can act and direct. Howard was first covered in the excellent John Wayne film The Shootist (1976) which I have an audio review on. The link will be in the description.

New

The man in black, Johnny Cash, played the role of a psychopathic killer, Johnny Cabot. Cash was born poor in one of the poorest parts of the country, in one of our poorest times, Arkansas, in 1932. At the age of 18, Cash joined the Air Force and went to training at Lackland AFB, Texas[4]. He met his future first wife here but was sent to Germany for three years. Cash finished his service as a Staff Sergeant. Small-town southern boys do well in the military for some reason.

Cash made his first record at Sun Records in 1955. He had a great career but was plagued with alcohol and drug abuse. Eventually, with the help of his second wife, June Carter, he was able to get straight.

Because of his deep voice and interesting appearance, Cash found work in a few films and on many television shows. Five Minutes to Live (1961) was Cash’s first movie; as far as I’m concerned, he pulled it off. He was in A Gunfighter (1971) with Kirk Douglas. He played a murderous preacher in an episode of “Columbo,” 1971, and he was pretty good. He got good reviews playing a sheriff in Murder in Coweta County (1983). For some reason, Cash and fellow singers Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson remade Stagecoach (1939) for television. Why?Why? Generally, it should be avoided, but some good Outlaw Country came out of the collaboration. Cash and June Carter had a country music variety show, “The Johnny Cash Show,” from 1969 to 1971. Cash died in 2003 as one of the most successful and important country singers in the world.

Vic Tayback played gangster Fred Dorella. Tayback was born in 1930 in New City. He graduated from Burbank High School in 1950. Tayback joined the Navy and didn’t begin acting until he was 25. Given his dark complexion and gruff demeanor, Tayback was a natural bad guy and often worked small parts.

Tayback was in many movies, but he is really known for one sitcom. His movies include Gangster Story (1959), North to Alaska (1960) with John Wayne, Five Minutes to Live (1961), and a small bit in Bullitt (1968).

In the 1970s, Tayback worked more often in films like Blood and Lace (1971) with Gloria Grahame, Emperor of the North (1973), a very interesting film, Papillon (1973), Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), The Gambler (1974), not the one with Kenny Rogers, The Black Bird (1975), a George Segal The Maltese Falcon (1941) slap up, The Choirboys (1977), and voice work in All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989).

Like all good actors, Tayback appeared in “Star Trek” 1966-1969 in “A Piece of the Action” 1966 as a Capone-style space gangster. As for that show that Tayback is famous for – “Eat My Grits!” If you know, you know. Tayback played grouchy cook Mel Sharples in “Alice” from 1976 to 1985, where Alice and Flo worked. He won two Emmys for this role. Tayback died in 1990.

Cay Forester played the victim, Nancy Wilson. She was born in California in 1921. Cay began acting in 1943. Some of her more interesting films include Queen of the Amazons (1946),

Don’t Gamble with Strangers (1946), Film Noirs Canon City (1948) and D.O.A. (1949), Five Minutes to Live (1961), Advise & Consent (1962), and Fuzz (1972). Perhaps more importantly, she wrote the screenplay for Five Minutes to Live (1961). Cay did in 2005.

Story – Five Minutes to Live (1961)

This movie begins with gangster Fred Dorella (Vic Tayback) being interrogated by the police in one of the best examples of chiaroscuro lighting I have seen in a film. In the finest Film Noir tradition, this tale is told in flashback.

Dorella tells that he went to Camila Gardens to try a small-town robbery. But John Cabot (Johnny Cash) was there hiding out after a failed robbery. Cabot and his partner were set up and killed a couple of cops. Cabot likes the killing.

The credits roll with John Cashing singing “Five Minutes to Live,’ a song he wrote for the movie. Camila Gardens is shown to be a non-descript, peaceful town. Dorella continues that Cabot has been hiding out in a hotel and was plenty bored by small-town life. He just plays his guitar all day. Cabot’s girl Doris Johnson (Midge Ware) came out to hide with him. Doris is a real beauty. She supports the pair by working as a waitress.

The hotel phone rings and Max (Merle Travis) is looking for Cabot. Merle Travis also played the guitar on “Five Minutes to Live.” She takes a message that a friend of Danny’s is looking for Cabot. Cabot thinks he might find out who ratted him out on the earlier robbery and calls Max back immediately.

Max is with Dorella as Dorella bowls. Max is small-time and tries to get a fee for the introduction. Doris comes with Cabot and meets Dorella. Dorella says he knows Doris by another name and asks about Whitey Roskey. Dorella orders her away, and Cabot shows his first flash of anger.

Dorella and Cabot talk in private. Dorella says it’s a two-man bank job. Cabot wants 30 percent of the take. Dorella says he has a way to take the bank. Dorella shows Cabot a newspaper article that has Nancy Wilson (Cay Forester) as the homemaker of the year and is married to Ken Wilson (Donald Woods), president of the bank they will rob.

The plan is simple, Cabot will take Nancy hostage, and Dorella will demand the money from her husband. Dorella will call Cabot every five minutes during the job. If the call doesn’t come on time, Cabot is to kill Nancy.

Cabot is pretty drunk when he returns to Doris at the hotel. Dorella’s narration includes that he told Cabot about Doris’ past. Doris is already planning on spending the money. Cabot tells her she will get a present. Cabot then puts a silencer on his pistol. He tells Doris that she is Whitey’s woman before murdering her.

The next day, Cabot arrives to meet Dorella in a new car he has purchased with his advance. Dorella is waiting in a convertible. They are both parked across the street from Ken and Nancy’s house.

Is it just me? I notice strange cars on my street with people sitting in them. It seems in the movies, people never notice. What about you?

Cabot is dressed as a door-to-door salesman for guitar lessons. Dorella has Nancy and Ken’s movements all mapped out. Cabot comments on what a mess Nancy is when she comes out in a housecoat to get her milk and paper.

In the house, Nancy calls her husband Ken and son Bobby (Ron Howard) to breakfast. All Nancy has on her mind is a speech she was to give at the women’s club that afternoon. Bobby complains that she promised to buy him a new baseball uniform. Ken comes out, and he is over the entire domestic scene. He is also hungover. Ken has been staying out late and refuses to take Bobby to get a new uniform. Ken complains that Nancy is spending too much time in city social clubs. She reminds him that she is doing it for him.

Nancy gets a call from the overly demanding Priscilla Auerbach (Norma Varden), the grand dame of the town. She is the sister of the wife of the owner of the bank where Ken works. Priscilla has decided they want Ken to be the president of the PTA. Ken tries to ask Nancy for a divorce, but she is in too much of a loving mood. Ken leaves for work. Bobby will head to school shortly.

Cabot freaks out when he sees Bobby. He doesn’t want to do any job that involves kids. Dorella explains that Bobby will be at school during the robbery and hostage-taking.

Ken arrives at the home of his girlfriend, Ellen Harcourt (Pamela Mason). Ken was with Ellen the night before. She chews him out for being late for their planned breakfast. Ellen is mad because Ken didn’t ask for the divorce this morning. They leave for work.

Cabot gets his pistol and silencer ready. Bobby plans to come home at noon to pick up money for a play. Dorella says he will make the first call between 10:30 and 11:00 the first time, and Cabot should not kill unless he must.

Cabot bluffs his way inside Nancy’s house by letting her win $10 by guessing what he is selling. He’s carrying a guitar case. Cabot asks for water and then pulls a gun on Nancy. He takes the money back. Cabot plays his guitar as he waits for the call from Dorella.

Ellen and Ken are in his car, and she wants to go to Las Vegas to make a new start. He agrees to take a flight at 6:15 that evening.

The phone rings, and Cabot has Nancy answer it. It’s spam. Cabot sings “Five Minutes to Live.”

When Ken arrives, the bank owner, Mr. Johnson (Leslie Kimmell), speaks with him about rumors of his affair with Ellen. Ken rebuffs the man who controls his employment. Ken then asks if a divorce would be enough of a scandal to get him fired. Mr. Johnson says maybe before leaving.

Back at the house, Cabot fires his silenced pistol at a vase on the mantel. The shot cuts a small crease in Nancy’s cheek. She realizes the magnitude of her trouble but doesn’t know why. Cabot starts making Nancy fix her hair so she looks nicer. Cabot begins to sexually terrorize Nancy. He then kills some Toby mugs. Nancy fights back, and Cabot toys with her. Cabot forces into the bedroom.

Dorella meets with Max outside of the bank. He tells Max to stay by the pay phone and call a number if Dorella leaves the bank. Otherwise, Max should just leave.

In Nancy’s closet, Cabot finds a sexy nightgown that he orders her to change into at gunpoint. He throws her on the bed, but an alarm on the stove stops the attack. She then puts on the gown and makeup, hoping to trick Cabot. She can’t go through with the trick and asks for death.

Dorella enters the bank and is admitted to Ken’s office. He wants to cash a check for $70,000. Dorella says one of the bank officers can verify his identity. He tells Ken that he is the man who will vouch for him because he knows everything about him and his wife. He also explains that Cabot is holding his wife hostage and will kill her if he doesn’t receive the scheduled phone calls at five-minute intervals.

Cabot continues to terrorize Nancy as she freaks out.

Dorella has Ken call home. Nancy answers, and Cabot confirms that she is a hostage. Cabot talks to Dorella to make sure everything is okay. Dorella says he will call back in five minutes or less. After the call, Ken gets a call from Ellen. He says he will have to call her back, and she ironically says she will only give him five minutes. Ken tells Dorella that he is leaving with Ellen and that killing his wife would be a favor.

At the house, Nancy gets a call from Pricilla.

Ken watches the time tick away as he refuses to give Dorella the money.

Cabot is preparing to murder Nancy as the call finally comes in.

Ken and Dorella head to the bank vault at the same time. Nancy calls again. The secretary puts Ellen on hold. Dorella, Ken, and Stevens (maybe Charles Buck) count the money in the vault. Pop (Howard Wright) thumbs through a stack of wanted posters in a bank office until he finds one with Dorella’s picture.

Dorella says there is plenty of time, as he will make the final call after he leaves the bank. Armed with a pistol, Pop tries to arrest Dorella. Ken holds Pop, and Dorella begins running away. Someone sets off the bank alarm. A customer fights with Dorella until Stevens konks him in the head with a bag of coins. Ken tries to wake Dorella to make the call. Outside, Max flees without making the call.

Cabot is getting meaner as he waits for the call. He turns her head and places the gun against it. Suddenly, the phone rings. It is Pricilla. Pricilla starts demanding that Nancy talk to her about Ken and the PTA. Pricilla won’t take any excuse to get off the phone. Finally, Cabot hangs the phone up and says Nancy has one more minute.

The police speed towards the house. Bobby comes home for lunch. Nancy tries to warn him, but the small boy enters another door. Cabot is panicking as the police arrive outside the house. With the police demanding he surrender, Cabot grabs Bobby and runs out the side door.

An officer gets an angle on Cabot and demands he drop Bobby. Cabot shoots the officer, and the officer’s return fire hits Bobby. Cabot seems to have a bout of consciousness about the wounded boy. Cabot makes a pillow for Bobby out of his jacket.

The other officer comes around and shoots Cabot. Cabot has an extended death scene but finally dies. Nancy is freaking out when Bobby runs around the house. Under questions, Bobby says when the guns fired, he played dead, just like on television. 

Later, Ken calls Nancy and tells her to send Bobby to her sister and that she and him are going on a trip to Las Vegas. They also state how much they are in love. Ellen is holding on the phone line the entire time and hears every word.

Nancy screams because the newspaper people are photographing her in that sexy nightgown.

When Ken picks up the other phone, Ellen simply hangs up, realizing she has been cast aside.

Dorella finishes telling the story in the police station. He is shocked by the country people and their simple lives being more complex. He smashes a cigarette on the picture of Nancy in the newspaper.

Later, on the way to Las Vegas, Nancy says she was saved by Pricilla’s call. Ken says he is the one who convinced Pricilla to call, making himself the big hero. Nancy mentions that she brought the sexy nightgown.

Conclusion – Five Minutes to Live (1961)

This was the first feature film starring Johnny Cash. He was much more prolific on television, with singing being his main occupation. This film was rereleased in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac (1966). This was probably done to cash in on the more relaxed censorship, including adding back a sexual assault scene.

The $70,000 would be somewhere around ¾ of a million dollars now.

There are some timeframe issues. Cabot kidnaps Nancy before 9A.M., and only a couple of calls are made between him and Dorella. However, the climax occurs between 11:30A.M. and noon when Bobby comes home. 

I actually know why it is not listed as a Film Noir on iMDB.com. iMDB.com doesn’t include films made after 1958 as Film Noir. I myself go to 1962 or so for Film Noir.

World-Famous Short Summary – The Ron Howard kid is going to be a major star.

Beware the moors.

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^[1] I really know why it is not listed as a Film Noir on iMDB.com. iMDB.com doesn’t include films made after 1958 as Film Noir. I myself got to 1962 or so for Film Noir.

[2] https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054817

[3] Five Minutes to Live | Rotten Tomatoes

[4] Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, Was a Morse code Intercept Operator during the Cold War – Station HYPO