Johnny Cash’s Film Debut — ‘Door-To-Door Maniac’ Reviewed

While Johnny Cash would appear in a number of TV movies, he would only ever star in two theatrical releases. Bill Karn‘s Door-to-Door Maniac is the first and marks the performer’s acting debut as Johnny Cabot, a known criminal who agrees to a two-man job concocted by Mr. Dorella (Vic Tayback). The objective: convince a banker (Donald Woods) to hand over $70,000. Their bargaining chip is the banker’s wife, Nancy (Cay Forester, who also wrote the screenplay under the name M. K. Forester), who Johnny holds hostage and will kill if her husband doesn’t agree to their terms.

Originally released in 1961 as Five Minutes to Live, the film was re-released with some added footage in 1966 as Door-to-Door Maniac (the big addition being an extended sex scene that’s very uncomfortable). If there’s one word to describe Cash’s performance, it’s “unhinged.” In their commentary author/podcaster Daniel Budnik and film historian Rob Kelly note the lack of direction Kern gave the first time actor, who wanted to launch a film career not unlike Elvis’. In fact, as Don Stradley brings up in his booklet essay, the film would’ve never been completed if it weren’t for Cash investing $20,000 for it to be finished. Kelly and Stradley are an entertaining listen as they talk about all of the vases Johnny breaks and how long it takes for the heist to start. I especially appreciated the “five minutes to comment” remark towards the end.

One thing that can be said for Door-to-Door Maniac is it’s not afraid to show how warped suburbia can be (and how bad Mr. Dorella was at surveillance). As a Johnny Cash fan, not seeing this film wasn’t an option, but there’s not enough of him in it. Cash plays one song for the traumatized Nancy (“Five Minutes To Live”), because of course he brings a guitar to the job, and another Cash song (“I’ve Come to Kill”) plays over the opening credits.

Film Masters’ Blu-ray also comes with a second heist film, Aram Kacher’s Right Hand of the Devil. Kacher (who basically performed every job on the film and was a hairdresser by profession) stars as Pepe. Here, Pepe intends to cozy up to one of the older employees (Lisa McDonald) at a sports arena, with the thinking being that she’ll be so flattered by his attentions that she’ll get sloppy with her keys. What would’ve made the film stronger is if it had actually went the supernatural route and made Pepe the Devil or someone who’s pact with the Devil becomes his undoing. It’s a fine way to spend an hour, but not particularly impactful. The best part is the opening titles sequence by Kacher which, as comes up in the commentary by the Monster Party podcast (Matt Weinhold, Shawn Sheridan, Larry Strothe, and James Gonis), feels reminiscent of Saul Bass.

Bonus features-wise, there’s a visual essay on Katcher by Someone’s Favorite Productions (Dr. Will Dodson and Ryan Verrill) and a booklet essay by C. Courtney Joyner that focuses on Right Hand of the Devil’s screenwriter Ralph Brooke. Kudos to Film Masters for making subtitles available for everything, including the commentaries.

Door-To-Door Maniac is available on Blu-ray from Film Masters.