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IMDbPro

Notre agent de Harlem

Original title: The Spook Who Sat by the Door
  • 1973
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Lawrence Cook in Notre agent de Harlem (1973)
A black man plays Uncle Tom in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American Revolution.
Play trailer2:27
1 Video
35 Photos
ActionCrimeDrama

A black man plays 'uncle Tom' in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American revolt.A black man plays 'uncle Tom' in order to gain access to CIA training, then uses that knowledge to plot a new American revolt.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
    • Ivan Dixon
  • Writers
    • Sam Greenlee
    • Melvin Clay
  • Stars
    • Lawrence Cook
    • Janet League
    • Paula Kelly
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Ivan Dixon
    • Writers
      • Sam Greenlee
      • Melvin Clay
    • Stars
      • Lawrence Cook
      • Janet League
      • Paula Kelly
    • 23User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Trailer

    Photos35

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    Top cast52

    Edit
    Lawrence Cook
    • Dan Freeman
    Janet League
    • Joy
    Paula Kelly
    Paula Kelly
    • Dahomey Queen
    J.A. Preston
    J.A. Preston
    • Dawson
    Paul Butler
    • Do-Daddy Dean
    Don Blakely
    Don Blakely
    • Stud Davis
    David Lemieux
    David Lemieux
    • Pretty Willie
    Byron Morrow
    Byron Morrow
    • General
    Jack Aaron
    • Carstairs
    Joseph Mascolo
    Joseph Mascolo
    • Senator Hennington
    Elaine Aiken
    Elaine Aiken
    • Mrs. Hennington
    Beverly Gill
    • Willa
    Bob Hill
    • Calhoun
    Martin Golar
    • Perkins
    Jeff Hamilton
    • Policeman
    Margaret Kromgols
    • Old Woman
    Tom Alderman
    • Security Officer
    Stephen Ferry
    • Colonel
    • Director
      • Ivan Dixon
    • Writers
      • Sam Greenlee
      • Melvin Clay
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    7.21.7K
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    Featured reviews

    10fox_orvngs

    Greatest guerrilla movie ever made

    This is one of the undiscovered treasures of cinema people, if you haven't seen it you need to. They never paid for one permit and they did this movie for about $90,000USD, but they don't skip a beat. Same editor as Schindler's List; if you watch the movie you can tell why Spielberg uses this guy, he is a master.

    Even if you don't agree with the films message you have to agree that this is one of thee finest made independent films in existence, and considering the subject matter it is a surprise this film was ever shot, because the book had a pretty hard time getting published too.

    I think this film is everything Melvin Van Peebles wanted SweetBack to be.
    10Baroque

    Too powerful to be dismissed

    Dan Freeman (played by Lawrence Cook) is a token black CIA operative. Trained in all sorts of espionage, he is relegated to working in the copying department as a "showcase" employee of integration. As the title suggests, he's placed by the door of the office so he's the first person everyone sees. Incensed by his mistreatment (and the racial stereotyping of his superiors), he resigns to his native Chicago as a social services worker.

    Secretly, he is training a street gang into a guerrilla army to be the vanguard in a race war, using all of his training by "the man" against "the man".

    The details are impressive. Freeman explains how to establish a hierarchy in an underground movement, how to recruit new members, living on the street, and forming new cells. He also details how racial stereotypes can be used to one's advantage, citing how no one ever notices a smiling black man in an office carrying a mop.

    The film is a faithful adaptation of Sam Greenlee's controversial novel of the same title, and a haunting look at what MIGHT have (and maybe damned near) happened in the USA during that turbulent period of history. The film was quickly followed by a long line of "blaxploitation" films, often made with little regard for content and style. But "Spook", shot on a small budget, has a powerful message: Never underestimate anyone! Not even "the spook who sat by the door"!

    As a motion picture, it does have technical weaknesses, but the drama is well-played, the plot is very tight and the characters are believable. The language, however, is very harsh. A white man (like myself) may find the diatribes against "whitey" shocking, but this film was made during a time of great racial strife, and it echos those times.

    Made in 1973, it still packs a punch, and is worth tracking down and buying (Do a web-search! That's how I got my copy!).

    A ground-breaking film! (Does anyone but me catch the irony of the main character's name? "Free Man"?)
    10BookerII

    The greatest of all African-American movies.

    I viewed this film in a Pan African Studies class at California State University, Northridge in 1993. Professor James Dennis who was a Civil Rights activist who made the Mississippi Freedom Rides told us this was the best film about and by African-Americans, and I agree with him wholeheartedly! I would like to get this video and show it in the classes I teach in history. This film was ahead of its time. Sam Greenelee is a very good writer and captures the essence of the struggle for African-Americans.
    nuport

    All POWER TO the PEOPLE!!

    This interesting drama hits dead on point for those of who dream of a better government and a better America .In the film ,a racist politician losing in the polls and fearing the loss of the so-called Negro vote decides to give the people a few crumbs off the table by allowing some black men to be recruited into the CIA. Certain under handed deals are made to insure none of these men will succeed ,however one guy makes it through all the rigorous training and educating. And in an incredible graduation scene (see it to believe it!)is congratulated for being the 1st of his race into the CIA. The films budgetary restraints are apparent throughout, but the entire cast deliver good performances most convincingly the main character.I won't spoil it suffice to say the guy gets to put all the training to very good use,as he resigns from the racist system and sets out to make real change for his community. I would give this 15*s
    8bean-d

    Though Dated, Still Fantastic

    I can't remember how this ended up on my Netflix (I must have read about it in a book or magazine), but I was incredibly surprised. In my mind this rivals "Do the Right Thing"--without the polish. I've seen numerous "blaxploitation" films (not my favorite term), but this 1) doesn't pull any punches and 2) doesn't degenerate into demeaning sex and violence. Unlike films like "Shaft" that just made a white hero black, "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" probably gave the establishment a severe case of heartburn--I mean, can you consider this with white characters?! No. It's a black film through and through. The establishment can tolerate a "Superfly" or a "Shaft," but a film like this (more akin to "The Battle of Algiers") is borderline dangerous. I used to teach a film class, and if I still did, I may very well have considered showing this. An important film.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The actor who played Pretty Willie (David Lemieux) was a member of the Black Panthers and later became a Chicago police detective.
    • 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!

    • Connections
      Featured in Trailer Trauma Part 4: Television Trauma (2017)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 23, 1981 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Spook Who Sat by the Door
    • Filming locations
      • 63rd Street & Cottage Grove Avenue, Woodlawn, Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Bokari
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $998,351
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 42m(102 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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