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The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)

7.1
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Ratings: 7.1/10 from 521 users  
Reviews: 17 user | 16 critic

A black man plays Uncle Tom in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American Revolution.

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Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay), 1 more credit »
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Title: The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)

The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) on IMDb 7.1/10

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Cast

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

In order to improve his standing with Black voters, a White Senator starts a campaign for the CIA to recruit Black agents. However, all are graded on a curve and doomed to fail, save for a soft-spoken veteran named Dan Freeman. After grueling training in guerrilla warfare, clandestine operations and unarmed combat, he is assigned a meager job as the CIA's token Black employee. After five years of racist and stereotyped treatment by his superiors, he quietly resigns to return to his native Chicago to work for a social services agency...by day. By night, he trains a street gang to be the vanguard in an upcoming race war, using all that the CIA has taught him... Written by Baroque

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Their first mistake was letting him in. Their biggest mistake was letting him out! See more »

Genres:

Action | Drama | Crime

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

23 December 1981 (France)  »

Also Known As:

De zwarte CIA-agent  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Sam Greenlee, the outdoor scenes filmed in Chicago were shot without permits. See more »

Quotes

Dan Freeman: You have just played out the American dream... and now, we're gonna turn it into a nightmare.
See more »

Connections

Spoofed in Black Dynamite (2009) See more »

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User Reviews

 
For it's time it was a good movie
2 July 2006 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

I agree this movie could have been better but looking back now I'd say it was exactly what people were looking to see on the screen.All the films with Black cast had the same feel to them and we ate it up.Two of the best that strayed from all that were not talked about as much as the action pictures."Sounder" and "The Learning Tree" which also need to be shown more on TV.As for this film I liked the actor who played the lead.Lawrence Cook who I see died 3 yrs ago was exactly what I pictured Dan Freeman to be like.I recommend this film and i'd love to see a Black film channel that gives you some commentary along with the films as TCM does.Where's Max Julien? How about all the black actresses who paved the way for those working now.Not Hattie McDaniel but Gloria Hendry,Brenda Sykes,Shelia Frazier and Judy Pace just to name a few.I know Vonetta McGee who was with Max Julien on screen and in real life for a time ,married Carl Lumbly.Lonette McKee was on TV often at one time and Rosalind Cash has passed away.Anyhoo see this movie and then see another black film and another.Then pick up a book.Or do both read the book "Native Son" then watch the film "Native Son"-any version."The River Niger" is on DVD in the dollar bin but it's good.If only because James Earl Jones and Glen Turman are in it.


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