MOVIEmeter
SEE RANK
Up 6,476 this week

Five Minutes to Live (1961)

5.8
Your rating:
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -/10 X  
Ratings: 5.8/10 from 360 users  
Reviews: 25 user | 8 critic

A gang of bank robbers terrorize a small town by knocking on doors and then killing whoever answers.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (based on a story by), 1 more credit »
0Check in
0Share...

User Lists

Related lists from IMDb users

a list of 151 titles created 04 Feb 2012
 
a list of 5779 titles created 5 months ago
 
a list of 121 titles created 08 Oct 2011
 
a list of 50 titles created 7 months ago
 

Connect with IMDb


Share this Rating

Title: Five Minutes to Live (1961)

Five Minutes to Live (1961) on IMDb 5.8/10

Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.

Take The Quiz!

Test your knowledge of Five Minutes to Live.
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Johnny Cabot
Donald Woods ...
Ken Wilson
Cay Forester ...
Nancy Wilson
Pamela Mason ...
Ellen Harcourt
...
Fred Dorella
...
Bobby Wilson (as Ronnie Howard)
Merle Travis ...
Max
Midge Ware ...
Doris Johnson
...
Priscilla Auerbach
Leslie Kimmell ...
Mr. Johnson (as Leslie Kimmel)
Marge Waller ...
Secretary
Patricia Lynn ...
Gert
Frances Flower ...
Irma
Hanna Landy ...
Carol
Cynthia Flower ...
Girl Bowling
Edit

Storyline

Originally released in 1961 as Five Minutes to Live, this low-budget crime drama was later re-released as Door-to-Door Maniac. Fred narrates the film in flashback, detailing a suburban bank robbery that goes awry. In his simple plan, he hires a hard-up hood, Johnny Cabot to take the wife of the bank's vice president hostage. Cabot will hold her until he gets a call alerting him that Fred has been successful in getting ransom money. Cabot waits, and watches the Wilson house as the husband leaves for the bank and their young son heads off to school. Posing as a door-to-door guitar instructor, he forces his way into the house and takes Nancy Wilson hostage. At the bank, Fred talks his way into Ken Wilson's office, and presents his personal check for $70,000, intending that Wilson will withdraw the funds to cover the check as a ransom for his wife. He has Wilson call home to prove that Nancy is being held by the unstable Cabot, and gives Wilson 5 minutes to make his decision. If Fred ... Written by msb/lll

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

bank | house | police | hostage | bank robber | See more »

Taglines:

When the door bell rings... Don't answer! It could be the Door-to-Door Maniac! See more »

Genres:

Crime | Music | Drama | Thriller

Certificate:

TV-PG | See all certifications »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

February 1964 (Austria)  »

Also Known As:

Door-to-Door Maniac  »

Filming Locations:


Box Office

Budget:

$100,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Recording)
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Quotes

Johnny Cabot: I like a messy bed.
See more »

Connections

Edited into The Clock (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

"Five Minutes To Live"
Written by Johnny Cash
Solo Guitar by Merle Travis (as Merl Travis)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Surprisingly effective psycho thriller with memorably over-the-top performance from Johnny Cash
29 May 2007 | by (Worcester, MA) – See all my reviews

Before watching this, I was expecting some good campy laughs at the expense of the utterly bizarre casting (Johnny Cash, the Man in Black himself, as a psychotic murderer?). Well, I got them, but this flicks also surprisingly decent in some respects. Cash, even when maniacally overacting, is still the coolest man ever, no matter what he does. Even though this is far from the best thing hes done, its a decent enough portrayal. Sure, its a bit over-the-top but actually somewhat believable. Its a bit disorienting seeing him murder a women in cold blood and using Ron Howard as a human shield.

Cash makes the whole film basically. The direction by Bill Karn isn't anything special, but keeps everything moving at a quick pace. The family that Cash invades is so annoying you begin to root for him. In particular, Ron Howard plays possibly the most annoying little kid in all 50s / 60s cinema, if not all time. Donald Woods makes a wooden leading man, and Cay Forrester constant panicking wears on your nerves very fast. Still, Cash remains cool and calm throughout. The scene where he destroys the vases and lamps in Forrester's living room is absolutely priceless. "Door-to-Door Maniac" overall was better than expected. (6/10)


6 of 9 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Five Minutes to Live or Door-to-Door Maniac? braves_snl
Trivia Info babyboomerjim
public domain - internet archive mineralskin
“ I like a messy bed” tyler_roughnecks
Incorrect Plot Detail/Logline reames
on comcast on demand right now ! melissy87-928-30530
Discuss Five Minutes to Live (1961) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?