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IMDb > The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)

The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.9/10   325 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 25% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Melvin Clay (writer)
Sam Greenlee (novel)
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Spook Who Sat by the Door on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 December 1981 (France) more
Genre:
Tagline:
The controversial best selling novel now becomes a shocking screen reality. more
Plot:
A black man plays Uncle Tom in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American Revolution. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Watch Out!: The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
 (From JustPressPlay. 27 August 2009, 3:01 PM, PDT)

Watch Out!: The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
 (From JustPressPlay. 27 August 2009, 3:01 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
A Vastly underrated and under-viewed Black Film ! more (15 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Lawrence Cook ... Dan Freeman
Janet League ... Joy
Paula Kelly ... Dahomey Queen
J.A. Preston ... Dawson
Paul Butler ... Do-Daddy Dean
Don Blakely ... Stud Davis
David Lemieux ... Pretty Willie
Byron Morrow ... General
Jack Aaron ... Carstairs
Joseph Mascolo ... Senator Hennington
Elaine Aiken ... Mrs. Hennington
Beverly Gill ... Willa
Bob Hill ... Calhoun
Martin Golar ... Perkins
Jeff Hamilton ... Policeman
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Additional Details

Runtime:
102 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
According to Sam Greenlee, the outdoor scenes filmed in Chicago were shot without permits. more
Quotes:
Dan Freeman: You have just played out the American dream... and now, we're gonna turn it into a nightmare. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs Gone with the Wind (1939) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 11 people found the following review useful.
A Vastly underrated and under-viewed Black Film !, 22 May 2002
Author: tmpj from Chicago IL

I have seen this film on several occasions ( though not lately), have spoken to its author , and have known several of its cast members, the most notable of which would be Lawrence Cook and Paula Kelly. For a time the film was withdrawn from circulation, though it was briefly brought back in a limited release in the late 1980s. It was made on a shoestring budget. The subject matter was so controversial that the then Mayor of Chicago would not allow it to be filmed in the city, which is where Greenlee had sought to film it. Gary, Indiana had to be the stage, instead. Despite the obvious budget ( and therefore technical) limitations--not to mention the dearth of then well known names--the film is highly effective. Many a movie patron who sat through it went home feeling somewhat--perhaps considerably--less secure about himself and the world around him. I loved the film.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
banned? greenrazi
Was Pretty Willy really black? zone_leader
Soundtrack found here tabbycat
Sam Greenlee spoke to my class jmoney747
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