The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973)
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- PG
- 1h 42min
- Action, Drama
- 23 Dec 1981 (France)
- Movie
A black man plays 'uncle Tom' in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American revolt.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- 1 win & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
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Lawrence Cook | ... |
Dan Freeman
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Janet League | ... |
Joy
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| Paula Kelly | ... |
Dahomey Queen
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| J.A. Preston | ... |
Dawson
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Paul Butler | ... |
Do-Daddy Dean
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| Don Blakely | ... |
Stud Davis
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| David Lemieux | ... |
Pretty Willie
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| Byron Morrow | ... |
General
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Jack Aaron | ... |
Carstairs
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| Joseph Mascolo | ... |
Senator Hennington
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| Elaine Aiken | ... |
Mrs. Hennington
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Beverly Gill | ... |
Willa
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Bob Hill | ... |
Calhoun
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Martin Golar | ... |
Perkins
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Jeff Hamilton | ... |
Policeman
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Margaret Kromgols | ... |
Old Woman
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Tom Alderman | ... |
Security Officer
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Stephen Ferry | ... |
Colonel
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Kathy Berk | ... |
Doris
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Stephen Ferry II | ... |
Boy Guardsman
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Frank Lesley | ... |
TV Commentator
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Harold Johnson | ... |
Jackson
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| Anthony Ray | ... |
Shorty
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Audrey Stevenson | ... |
Mrs. Duncan
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John Charles | ... |
Stew
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Ponciano Olayta Jr. | ... |
Mr. Soo
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Sidney Eden | ... |
Instructor II
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Colostine Boatwright | ... |
Dancer
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| Johnny Williams | ... |
Waiter
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Cora Williams | ... |
Woman I
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Bobbie Gene Williams | ... |
Woman II
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Doug Johnson | ... |
Trainee 1
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Lenard Norris | ... |
Trainee 2
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Mark Williams | ... |
Trainee 3
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Walter Lowe | ... |
Trainee 4
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Robert Franklin | ... |
Trainee 5
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Harold Harris | ... |
Trainee 6
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Jim Heard | ... |
Trainee 7
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Ken Orme | ... |
Trainee 8
(as Kenneth Lee Orme)
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Don Greenlee | ... |
Trainee 9
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| Johnnie Johnson III | ... |
Cobra
(as Johnnie Johnson)
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Frank E. Ford | ... |
Cobra
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Maurice Wicks | ... |
Cobra
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Perry Thomas | ... |
Cobra
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Clinton Malcome | ... |
Cobra
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Orlanders Thomas | ... |
Cobra
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Larry Lawrence | ... |
Cobra
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Rodney McGrader | ... |
Cobra
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Tyrone R. Livingston | ... |
Cobra
(as Tyrone Livingston)
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Ramon Livingston | ... |
Cobra
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James Mitchell | ... |
Cobra
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Virgie Johnson | ... |
Cobra
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Directed by
| Ivan Dixon | ||
Written by
| Sam Greenlee | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Melvin Clay | ... | (screenplay) (as Mel Clay) |
| Sam Greenlee | ... | (novel "The Spook Who Sat by the Door") |
Produced by
| Ivan Dixon | ... | producer |
| Sam Greenlee | ... | producer |
| Thomas G. Neusom | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Herbie Hancock | ||
Cinematography by
| Michel Hugo | ||
Editing by
| Michael Kahn | ||
Editorial Department
| Ed Forsyth | ... | post production supervisor |
| Thomas Penick | ... | assistant editor |
| Carolyn Sides | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Martin Golar | ||
| Thomas Hart | ||
Art Direction by
| A. Leslie Thomas | ... | (as Leslie Thomas) |
Set Decoration by
| Cheryal Kearney | ||
Makeup Department
| Bernadine M. Anderson | ... | makeup artist (as Bernadine Anderson) |
Production Management
| Clifford C. Coleman | ... | production manager (as Cliff Coleman) |
| Charles Washburn | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Clifford C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (as Cliff Coleman) |
| Charles Washburn | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Stephen R. Ferry | ... | props (as Steve Ferry) |
| Ken Orme | ... | props (as Kenneth Orme) |
Sound Department
| John Speak | ... | sound mixer |
| Will Yarbrough | ... | boom operator |
Special Effects by
| Logan Frazee | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Harry Abdul Moore | ... | stunts |
| Charlie Picerni | ... | stunt coordinator / stunts |
| Ernest Robinson | ... | stunt gaffer (as Ernie Robinson) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Leonard Alex | ... | second assistant camera |
| Angelo Dellutri | ... | camera operator |
| Lloyd Isbell | ... | key grip |
| Ralph McCarthy | ... | gaffer |
| Eugene Simpson | ... | best boy |
| Joseph M. Wilcots | ... | camera operator (as Joe Wilcots) |
| Eddie Willis | ... | dolly grip |
Casting Department
| Cassius Weathersby | ... | casting assistant |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Henry Salley | ... | wardrobe |
Location Management
| Jerry Whittington | ... | location projectionist: Dailies |
Script and Continuity Department
| Vivian Jones | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| R.J. Louis | ... | production coordinator |
| Adilisha Safi | ... | production assistant |
| Walter Smith | ... | production assistant |
Thanks
| Richard Hatcher | ... | the producers are grateful to (as Mayor Richard G. Hatcher) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- United Artists (1973) (United States) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1974) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Video City Productions (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Monarch Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- CNR Film & Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- RCV Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The People of Gary, Indiana (the producers are grateful to: for their cooperation in the production of this film)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 Keywords | |
| Taglines | The controversial best selling novel now becomes a shocking screen reality. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The actor who played Pretty Willie (David Lemieux) was a member of the Black Panthers and later became a Chicago police detective. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Trailer Trauma Part 4: Television Trauma (2017). See more » |
| Quotes |
[after being told he and the other light-skinned gang members are to rob a bank]
Pretty Willie: All the yellow nigga's, right? [His anger coming to a slow boil] Pretty Willie: Look, man, I am TIRED of that! I am not passing! I am BLACK! Do you hear me, man? Do you understand? I am BLACK! I am a NIGGA', you understand me? I was BORN Black, I -LIVE- Black, and I'm gonna die, prob'ly -BECAUSE- I'm Black, because some Cracker that -KNOWS- I'm Black, better than -YOU-, Nigga', is prob'ly gonna put a BULLET in the back of my head! See more » |