IMDb >
The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 5 | slideshow) |
Overview
User Rating:
Tagline:
The controversial best selling novel now becomes a shocking screen reality. morePlot:
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 synopsisUser Comments:
An essential slice of revolutionary black cinema moreCast
(Complete credited cast)| Lawrence Cook | ... | Dan Freeman | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jack Aaron | ... | Carstairs | |
| Elaine Aiken | ... | Mrs. Hennington | |
| Tom Alderman | ... | Security Officer | |
| Kathy Berk | ... | Doris | |
| Don Blakely | ... | Stud Davis | |
| Colostine Boatwright | ... | Dancer | |
| Paul Butler | ... | Do-Daddy Dean | |
| John Charles | ... | Stew | |
| Sidney Eden | ... | Instructor II | |
| Stephen Ferry II | ... | Boy Guardsman | |
| Stephen Ferry | ... | Colonel | |
| Frank E. Ford | ... | Cobra | |
| Robert Franklia | ... | Trainee | |
| Beverly Gill | ... | Willa | |
| Martin Golar | ... | Perkins | |
| Don Greenlee | ... | Trainee | |
| Jeff Hamilton | ... | Policeman | |
| Harold Harris | ... | Trainee | |
| Jim Heard | ... | Trainee | |
| Bob Hill | ... | Calhoun | |
| Doug Johnson | ... | CIA candidate | |
| Harold Johnson | ... | Jackson | |
| Johnnie Johnson III | ... | Cobra | |
| Virgie Johnson | ... | Cobra | |
| Paula Kelly | ... | Dahomey Queen | |
| Margaret Kromgols | ... | Old Woman | |
| Larry Lawrence | ... | Cobra | |
| Janet League | ... | Joy | |
| David Lemieux | ... | Pretty Willie | |
| Frank Lesley | ... | TV Commentator | |
| Ramon Livingston | ... | Cobra | |
| Tyrone R. Livingston | ... | Cobra (as Tyrone Livingston) | |
| Walter Lowe | |||
| Clinton Malcome | |||
| Joseph Mascolo | ... | Senator Hennington | |
| Rodney McGrader | ... | Cobra | |
| James Mitchell | |||
| Byron Morrow | ... | General | |
| Lenard Norris | ... | Trainee | |
| Ponciano Olayta Jr. | ... | Soo | |
| Kenneth Lee Orme | ... | Trainee | |
| J.A. Preston | ... | Dawson | |
| Anthony Ray | ... | Shorty (as Pemon Rami) | |
| Ernest Robinson | ... | Stunt Gaffer (as Ernie Robinson) | |
| Audrey Stevenson | ... | Mrs. Duncan | |
| Orlanders Thomas | ... | Cobra | |
| Perry Thomas | ... | Cobra | |
| Maurice Wicks | |||
| Bobbie Gene Williams | ... | Woman II | |
| Cora Williams | ... | Woman I | |
| Johnny Williams | ... | Waiter | |
| Mark Williams | ... | Trainee | |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
102 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoFun Stuff
Trivia:
(David Lemieux), who played "Pretty Willie", was a member of the Black Panthers and later became a Chicago police detective. moreQuotes:
Dan Freeman: [confronting members of the Cobras street gang] Shut up... and listen! The big-time, bad-ass Cobras. Pumpin' away at the Pigs from the rooftops during the riots last summer? Oh, yeah! I know what ya's into. With .22 rifles and pistols did about as much damage as a mosquito to a elephant's ass! What did you expect to hit from that range, with those weapons at night? You might as well as *thrown* the damned pieces at the Pigs! You *really* wanna mess with Whitey? I can show you how. *I* can show you how! moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)| 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 |
Recommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Apocalypse Now | Training Day | Radar Patrol vs. Spy King | The Cool World | The Liberation of L.B. Jones |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| IMDb Action section | IMDb USA section | Add this title to MyMovies |






Very intelligent and sublimely scripted film that stars Larry Cook in a truly powerful role. Cook plays Dan Freeman, the first CIA-recruit since the start of the agency. After an intense training and a mind-strong career of 5 years, Freeman returns to the ghetto where he grew up and mobilizes the future-less black youth to stand up for themselves and begin a violent revolution against the white authorities. The message and criticism in the screenplay is so well-elaborated because Sam Greenlee adapted it from his own novel. True, the film contains a little too much talking and some of the sentimental speeches are hard to swallow (like Freeman's supposedly heart-breaking tale of how he taught his grandmother to read), but most of the criticism against America are quite thought-provoking, daring and way ahead of their time. Around the hour, more action kicks in and we're treated to several convincing riot-sequences and atmospheric images of the ghetto under siege. But, perhaps the most fascinating aspect about "The Spook who sat by the Door" is the psychological battle inside the protagonist's head, resulting in a dazzling end-scene. Knowing the controversy a film like "New Jack City" caused, I'm sure that this movie would provoke far worse situations when re-released properly.
It is claimed that this movie was "lost" for over 30 years so it got honored by an immense cult-status. I can only recommend for you to see it yourself.