Review: The Spook Who Sat By the Door

For purely political reasons, the CIA decides to recruit African-Americans, with the idea that rigorous training will be too much for them anyway. Lawrence Cook plays one such recruit who doesn’t drop out, though his subsequent duties of basically manning the photo copier by the door (hence the reactionary title) do eventually see him resign a few years later. So what does he do? Officially working as a social worker, Cook is in actuality using his CIA training to utilise Chicago’s street gangs in staging a seizure of the ghettos. J.A. Preston is Cook’s cop friend who may be forced to work against him, and Joseph Mascolo plays a shameless white senator trying to win the black vote. Real-life Black Panther member (and Chicago cop at one point apparently) David Lemieux appears as a white-passing guerrilla member.

 

Directed by Ivan Dixon (best known for appearing on “Hogan’s Heroes”), this 1973 adaptation of the novel by Sam Greenlee is a priceless, cynical film. A running time of more than 100 minutes lets you know this blaxploitation film is no cheap drive-in flick, it’s a film with something to say. Spike Lee doesn’t strike me as a blaxploitation guy but I’d put money on even him liking this one. Why do I bring up Spike Lee? Because as I watched the film I couldn’t help but think this film is like the connective tissue between prime blaxploitation and Spike Lee’s ‘joints’. Aside from some rough acting, this film is like “The Black Gestapo” only done right. With an irresistible premise, it’s damn well-executed and interesting stuff.

 

White people here come off at best as patronising/condescending and mostly terribly racist otherwise. The film is pro-militant without our African-American lead protagonist coming across as an angry, over-the-top depiction of Black Panther-ism. As played by a very fine Lawrence Cook he’s measured, calculated, and intelligent – a man with a plan. Eventually anger does arrive but with an extended riot scene of realistic and immediate depiction. This film is still relevant in 2025. Meanwhile, as much as the film has something to say, it doesn’t do it all with dour seriousness. Scripted by Melvin Clay and Greenlee himself, some of this stuff is really funny, the film is partly satirical. If there’s a flaw (aside from Herbie Hancock’s very loud score) it’s that for all the surveillance the CIA initially did on the lead character, they don’t seem to be watching him terribly closely for the bulk of the film. Even within the film’s own internal logic that seems a bit hard to swallow.

 

Although a little rough around the edges, this is a great idea solidly executed. Even people who aren’t blaxploitation fans will want to check this one out. Cynical, funny, powerful - it’s a real standout and deserves more eyes on it.

 

Rating: B-

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