JOHNNY CASH
SIGNATURE COLLECTION
FIVE MINUTES TO LIVE
(aka "Door-to-Door Maniac") (1961)
Story of a bank robbery/kidnapping that goes terribly wrong. Johnny (Cash) is a small time thug hired by Fred (Vic Tayback) to kidnap at her home Nancy Wilson (Cay Forrester), wife of bank VP Ken (Donald Woods). Meanwhile Fred's at the bank trying to force Mr. W. to cash a $70,000 ransom check. Johnny will execute Nancy if he doesn't receive a "stand-down" phone call from his partner. The hitch: Ken Wilson's having an affair with Ellen (Pamela Mason), so these robbers would be doing him a favor if his wife dies. (Cast includes 6-year-old Ron Howard, Merle Travis and Rue McClanahan.)
GALLOWAY HOUSE (1962)
Failed pilot for a proposed series set in an old theater (the Galloway House) that would've featured stories based on popular country tunes. In this lone episode entitled "The Night Rider," Johnny sings his 1959 C&W hit "Don't Take Your Guns To Town." Several others, including Merle Travis and Gordon Terry perform "Skip To My Lou," "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair," "Git Along Little Dogies" and "Lord I'm Coming Home."
THE PRIDE OF JESSE HALLUM (1981)
Decent TV movie has Johnny as the title character-- a widowed, impoverished and illiterate coal miner who relocates to Cincinnati so daughter Jenny (Chrystal Smith) can get spinal surgery. Son Ted (Ben Marley) struggles in high school. Vice principal Marion Gallucci (Brenda Vacarro) suggests to the father that Ted be sent down to junior high, but Jesse appeals to the principal and Ted's allowed to remain in the 10th grade. Marion's dad, Sal (Eli Wallach) is Jesse's employer; he soon realizes that Jesse is illiterate and doesn't have a driver's license. Sal asks Marion to help his employee to both learn to read and pass a driver's multiple choice test.
UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY
JOHNNY CASH
The Unauthorized Biography of Johnny Cash is the real story of America's most beloved music icon. Come walk the line with the man and his music, and uncover all the facets of a truly larger-than-life American hero.