“There are movies whose backstories and reception histories are as compelling as the movies themselves. THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR is one.”
—The New York Times

Join Doris Nomathandé Dixon, daughter of Ivan Dixon, and Mike Mashon, former Head of the Moving Image Section at the Library of Congress, for a post-film discussion.

A revolution immortalized on celluloid, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR is a provocative adaptation of Sam Greenlee’s novel, brought vividly to life by director Ivan Dixon. The story follows Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), the first Black CIA agent whose journey begins with a cynical move: a senator, desperate for the Black vote, pressures the CIA to integrate. Freeman alone passes the rigorous training, mastering guerrilla warfare, sabotage, and unarmed combat, only to be relegated to a token role: a desk job by the front door, ensuring his visibility to the public. But what the agency doesn’t anticipate is Freeman’s defiance. Armed with the skills they underestimated, he devises a plan of his own — one that doesn’t involve wasting away in obscurity. The film’s incendiary message was so powerful that it was pulled from theaters a mere week after its release amid fears it might spur audiences to action.

Restored by the Library of Congress and the Film Foundation. Funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.