Spook Who Sat By the Door (1973)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
82% of users liked it
(1,021 ratings)

Sam Greenlee's cult favorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama, which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence… More Sam Greenlee's cult favorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama, which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence Agency has no black agents. Bowing to subsequent public pressure, the CIA admits a number of black applicants to their training program, but they purposefully make the process difficult and unpleasant enough to winnow out nearly all the African-American students. Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), a strong, intelligent but soft-spoken man, somehow makes it through the gauntlet to become the black CIA agent; however, rather than being given important field assignments, Freeman is put in charge of the agency's copying machines and gives tours of their facilities to give the offices a progressive front for visitors. After a few years, Freeman leaves the agency to move back to his hometown of Chicago and do work with the community...at least that's what he tells his superiors. In fact, Freeman has used his time at the CIA collecting information on how to launch a political revolution, and not long after he arrives in the Windy City, he begins recruiting an army of leftist radicals and black nationalists fed up with the system. With their help, Freeman launches the first stage of an armed revolt with the stated goal of bringing the white-dominated power structure to its knees. The Spook Who Sat by the Door was a rare feature directorial assignment for Ivan Dixon, best known as an actor (he played Sgt. "Kinch" Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes), Dixon has an extensive resume of directorial credits, but primarily in episodic television. Spook is his second theatrical release. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Ivan Dixon
Written By: Melvin Clay, Sam Greenlee
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

In Theaters: Sep 21, 1973 Limited
On DVD: Jan 27, 2004
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby, New York Times
It is such a mixture of passion, humor, hindsight, prophecy, prejudice and reaction that the fact that it's not a very well-made movie, and is seldom convincing as melodrama, is almost beside the point.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Possibly the most radical of the blaxploitation films of the 70s, this movie was an overnight success when released in 1973, then was abruptly taken out of distribution for reasons still not entirely clear.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Unabashedly bigoted, stridently hateful, it wants to be incendiary and controversial, but only manages thuggish and dull.
Peter Hanson, Film Threat
So fiery, smart and entertaining that the lack of finesse hardly matters.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
...a document of social revolt that still bristles with a timely, and timeless, impression of righteousness and intelligence.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
One of the few uncompromised representations of black armed resistance in the United States.
Cynthia Fuchs, PopMatters
"The bling blings are looking for a white audience," says Sam Greenlee. "My audience is not white."

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

One of the most radical blaxsplotation films I've ever seen.
Cassandra M

I took the message of self determination and exploiting the exploitative system to take skills and knowledge back to ones own community. Inspiring. Using counter terrorism tactics to teach the street gangs guerrilla warfare is just an example of this but it's handled well in the… More
I took the message of self determination and exploiting the exploitative system to take skills and knowledge back to ones own community. Inspiring. Using counter terrorism tactics to teach the street gangs guerrilla warfare is just an example of this but it's handled well in the movie. I like that they don't throw in a tacky ending but leave it out there. The scenes with Dan training in the CIA are confusing at first because you don't quite know where the movie is going and it did seem a little too easy for him to convince a street gang to follow him into urban revolution but that aside the sub plots like the friend who turns him in and the middle class black woman of his being scared by the revolutionary blacks make for a brilliant film.
Daniel H

A difficult film, both for someone to make in the 70's, and for a modern audience to swallow, but both Film and Novel take their subject matter seriously. This movie took guts. The militant uprising themes are portrayed through character development, and by the end you are… More
A difficult film, both for someone to make in the 70's, and for a modern audience to swallow, but both Film and Novel take their subject matter seriously. This movie took guts. The militant uprising themes are portrayed through character development, and by the end you are forced to analyze how far the protagonist has progressed, or deluded himself, depending on your point of view. Thankfully, the movie leaves it up to the viewer. To pigeonhole this film as mere propaganda is a bit harsh, as it tells a story not with ideology or metaphor but a well-rounded protagonist, and you are left free to interpret how the film ends. Yet, the film itself is nothing but a one-trick pony, and cannot rely on gutsy thematic content alone, and the supporting cast is blatantly two-dimensional, the plot, while unique in its setting, is sub-par when you strip away its thematic overtones. The films greatness is dependent on the arguments and thoughts it provokes once it is over, and not on its cinematic merit alone. The film is trapped in Schroedinger's box, but is well worth the time to examine for yourself, and see what emerges.

Cast

            Jack Aaron as Carstairs

            Don Blakely as Stud Davis

            Paul Butler as Do-Daddy Dean

            Doug Johnson
            
            Paula Kelly as Dahomey Queen

            Joe Mascolo as Senator

            Byron Morrow as General

            Lenard Norris
            
            J.A. Preston as Dawson

            Anthony Ray as Shorty

            Harold Harris
            
            Larry Lawrence
            
            Johnny Williams as Waiter

            Larry Cook as Dan Freeman

            Stephen Ferry as Colonel

            Beverly Gill as Willa

            Janet League as Joy

            Ernie Robinson
            
            James Mitchell
            
            Bob Hill as Calhoun

            Johnny Johnston
            
            Tom Alderman as Security Officer

            Kathy Berk as Doris

            Colostine Boatwright as Dancer

            Sidney Eden as Inspector

            Frank E. Ford
            
            Robert Franklia
            
            Martin Golar as Perkins

            Don Greenlee
            
            Jeff Hamilton as Policeman

            Jim Heard
            
            Virgie Johnson
            
            David Lemieux as Pretty Willie

            Frank Lesley as Commentator

            Tyrone Livingston
            
            Walter Lowe
            
            Clinton Malcome
            
            Rodney McGrader
            
            Ponciano Olayta Jr. as Soo

            Kenneth Lee Orme
            
            Audrey Stevenson as Mrs. Duncan

            Orlanders Thomas
            
            Thomas Perry
            
            Maurice Wicks
            
            Bobbie Gene Williams
            
            Harold C. Johnson as Jackson

            John Charles as Stew

            Cora Williams
            
            Mark Williams
            
            Lawrence Cook
            
            Elaine Aiken
            
See full cast