I love a good controversy as much as the next guy. Controversial films especially have been a staple of my movie watching diet throughout much of my adult life. Whether or not I like the film or not doesn’t make a difference, I’m just fascinated by any film that is considered ‘dangerous’ or ‘exploitive’ and often go out of my way to see them. Mainly this is because I like films that make me think or allow me to form an opinion about it that is deeper than “Wow, that blowed up real good.” For these reasons I have wanted to see “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” for the last 15 years. Of course I couldn’t see it if my life depended on it. The film was no where to be found. It was pulled from distribution within the first week of its release back in 1973 and hadn’t seen the light of day since. I did find out that murky over-copied bootlegs existed, but somehow my circle of friends never seemed to connect with the right people who could snag me a copy. For the most part, I had pretty much given up.

Then a press release caught my attention a few weeks ago. A studio by the name of Obsidian Home Entertainment (run by actor/filmmaker Tim Reid) was joining forces with Monarch Home Video to release “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” on DVD, thirty years after its initial release. Working with the original filmmakers, Obsidian was able to utilize the original camera negatives to restore the film to a watchable format. Finally, I would be able to see what was so darn ‘important’ about this film.

“The Spook Who Sat by the Door” was based on a book by Sam Greenlee (who went on to co-write and co-produce the film), and centered on a man by the name of Dan Freeman. Due to the political showcasing of a U.S. Senator and the efforts of the CIA to prove they are not a racist organization, Freeman becomes the first ever Black agent. Looking forward to the opportunity to do something positive for his country, Freeman instead is relegated to the lower levels of the CIA headquarters as a glorified copy boy. At one point he is given the chance to give a guided tour of the building to a group of politicians and earns a promotion. He is moved to a desk near the entrance and thereby becomes the first person people see as they come in. Here he sits for the next five years, the token Black agent for the entire world to see.

He finally tires of the useless position he is given and leaves the CIA to work for the private sector. But he had an agenda that is unknown to his former employers. Freeman has decided to use his years of CIA training to build an army who will eventually rise up against those who have oppressed his people for far too long.

There are so many ways one can view this film, much as there are different ways to define its title. The term ‘spook‘ is a slang term used to describe a spy, but it is also a derogatory term used to describe a Black person. So for the purposes of this film, both definitions apply. Since “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” was released during a time of such strong racial change in the U.S., the film was viewed by the government as a weapon of propaganda meant to incite riots. It was thought that some of the inner city neighborhoods were tinderboxes, waiting to be blown up into a full fledged race war. Because of this view, the film was pulled from theatres within a week, and rumor has it that copies of the film were seized.

The film was directed by Ivan Dixon, who is best remembered for portraying Sgt. Kinchloe on the TV series “Hogan’s Heroes.” According to the Dixon, he and Greenlee were not trying to incite riots at all. Their viewpoint was not meant to make anyone hate white people, they only wanted people to stand up for what was right and be willing to fight against an oppressive government in order to live free, hence the lead character’s name ‘Freeman.’ And watching the film, my viewpoint tends to lead me in the same direction. I believe their motives were what they claim.

However, I can see why the government might have had the problem that they did. The fact that the film wasn’t meant to incite a riot doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t. Certainly at time when, as I said, that the country was at the height of racial tensions. The message that the movie was supposed to deliver would most likely been lost on most audiences and there is a very real possibility that the stupidity that pervades a mob mentality might have taken over.

Here’s where I enter a grey area, however. Just because I understand the government’s perception of the film doesn’t mean I agree with their decision, or rather their supposed right to pull it from theatres. Did they have the right to step in? Absolutely not. Should they have stepped in? Probably so. A Catch-22 if I’ve seen one.

Thankfully we now live in a world where the racial tensions have eased up a bit. They still exist, but not to the extent that they once did. The only racial issues we tend to hear about nowadays come from the few unemployed loudmouths whose agenda is nothing more than to be famous, or have their success handed to them by some misguided sense of ‘right.’ Pretty much anyone in this country can now aspire to become whatever they want to be if they have the willingness to work for it.

Getting back to the new DVD release, there are a few extras that I recommend watching as well as the film. There is a lengthy interview with Greenlee, as well as a short one with actor/director/comedian Robert Townsend. He didn’t have anything to do with the making of the film, but saw it as a teenager and it inspired him to achieve something with his life. I would like to think that the film would have had that effect on more young people, and it probably would have. Unfortunately I think those who would have reacted adversely more than likely would have outnumbered them. There is also a very good introduction to the film by DeWayne Wickham, who is a writer for USA Today.

Though I would not say that “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” is a great film in terms of direction and execution, I do agree with those who call it an important film. I think perhaps it is more important today than it was back in the 1970s. Then, it might have incited some to riot but watching it now gives us a look at how things might have been, but thankfully weren’t.

Directed by: Ivan Dixon
Starring: Lawrence Cook, Jack Aaron, Don Blakely, Paul Butler, Paula Kelly
Extras: Introduction by USA Today Columnist DeWayne Wickham, One on One with Sam Greenlee, Robert Townsend Commentary, Original Theatrical Trailer, Original TV Commercials
Specifications: Widescreen
Studio: Monarch Home Video
Release Date: 1/27/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: PG
Website
Website

We'll give The Spook Who Sat by the Door a B.