Ivan Dixon's 1973 film, The Spook Who Sat by the Door, captures the intensity of social and political upheaval during a volatile period in American history. Based on Sam Greenlee's novel by the same name, the film is a searing portrayal of an American Black underclass brought to the brink of revolution. This series of critical essays situates the film in its social, political, and cinematic contexts and presents a wealth of related materials, including an extensive interview with Sam Greenlee, the original United Artists' press kit, numerous stills from the film, and the original screenplay. This fascinating examination of a revolutionary work foregrounds issues of race, class, and social inequality that continue to incite protests and drive political debate.

AcknowledgementsIntroduction: The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Michael T. Martin and David C. Wall1. Writer/Producer's Statement: The Making of The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Sam Greenlee2. "[D]uality is a survival tool. It's not a disease": Interview with Sam Greenlee on The Spook Who Sat By the Door / Michael T. Martin and David C. Wall3. Cinema as Political Activism: Contemporary Meanings in The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Marilyn Yaquinto4. Persistently Displaced: Situated Knowledges and Interrelated Histories in The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Samantha N. Sheppard5. Subverting the System: The Politics and Production of The Spook Who Sat By the Door / Christine Acham6. The Spook Who Sat By the Door, Screenplay / Sam Greenlee and Melvin ClayAppendix A: Press KitAppendix B: National Film Registry Entry, The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Michael T. Martin and David C. WallAppendix C: Sam Greenlee: Biography and Select BibliographyAppendix D: Ivan Dixon: Biography and Select FilmographyIndex