The Ban That Never Happened
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR (1973) was always playing at a theatre or drive-in near you.
A well-known movie from the fabulous era of 1970s Black Cinema is coming back to select theatres in a 4K restoration. The movie is called THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR (1973). It was recently screened at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and at the Maysles Documentary Center in New York. The movie is scheduled to be screened at the 60th Chicago International Film Festival in October. It will also be screened at the 2024 Houston Cinema Arts Festival on November 12. And…it will be presented on November 10 at the Gene Siskel Film Center; as part of the Black Harvest Film Festival. There's a lot of history with this movie.....much of which is utter nonsense. Here is the story of an urban legend…… of a movie getting "banned" in America after its "opening week", when in fact, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was released by three different film distributors, and it played at movie theatres and drive-ins on a regular basis, and then sporadically during the ensuing years, FOR OVER A DECADE.
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR is based on a 1969 novel, with the same title, written by Sam Greenlee. Mr. Greenlee was born in Chicago in 1930. He began a governmental career in 1957 by working for the United States Information Agency. He was one of the first Black government officials to work overseas. His experience working for the United States Government encouraged him to write a novel about a Black man joining the CIA. And that book was THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR.
After being rejected several times, Greenlee finally found a publisher in Great Britain to release his novel. It eventually got released in the United States. Now back in 1969, J. Edgar Hoover was still running the FBI. He was very paranoid about anything progressive. During this period, Mr. Greenlee was under a lot of federal scrutiny; with numerous FBI reports written about him. By the time THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was adapted into a movie (distributed by United Artists), Mr. Hoover was dead. The movie version of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR opened in August 1973 in Chicago. There weren’t any reports going around about government intervention at the time when the movie played in theatres during its first three years of existence…..at least none that I can find.
However, after United Artists pulled out as theatrical distributor two years after releasing the movie, a Black film distributor took over the rights for the movie in 1976, and then all of a sudden, there was talk brewing that THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR experienced some federal scrutiny shortly after it opened in 1973. This narrative was mainly delivered by Sam Greenlee; who, more than likely, got inspired by his 1969 situation with the federal government when his book and whereabouts were under investigation. J. Edgar Hoover was alive in 1969 to have Mr. Greenlee looked into. Mr. Hoover was not alive in 1973 when the movie version was released in theatres. I don’t know who the new director of the FBI was in 1973; but I have a feeling he wasn’t too interested in anything having to do with the movie. Now there may have been some discussions behind closed doors at the FBI and/or the CIA regarding the movie; but in no way was the movie “banned”. The exact opposite happened; the movie was presented like any other movie during this era 50 years ago……it was shown in American theatres, drive-ins, film festivals and college campuses, here and there, regularly and sporadically, during an 11 year period.
I first heard of the movie called THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR in August 1976. I was almost 12 years-old at the time, and I always studied the Friday Movie Section in the local Chicago newspapers back then. One day, I noticed an ad for a movie called THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR; opening at the Loop Theatre in Downtown Chicago, with live in person appearances by the film's star, Lawrence Cook, and the author of the novel the movie was based on, Sam Greenlee, during the opening weekend. I thought it was a new movie at the time. It played at the Loop Theatre for five weeks and then eventually played at 2nd Run theatres in Chicago.
Many years later, I discovered that THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was initially distributed by United Artists and it premiered at the Woods Theatre in Downtown Chicago in August 1973. I realized that, when the movie opened at the Loop Theatre in 1976, it was….. in actuality….. a re-release. This time, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was distributed by a different film company, American Transcontinental Pictures. I didn't know it then, but the re-release appears to have been done to create a new marketing campaign for the 3 year-old movie. A marketing campaign to get people riled up and then buy a ticket at the box-office. The makers and distributor of this movie were on a mission to get moviegoers to watch THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR under false pretenses.
Back in the Good Old Days (in my case, the 1970s and 1980s), the motion picture business was much different than it is today. Usually, back then, a movie would open exclusively at a downtown movie house, and then eventually open up at suburban shopping mall theatres, and then eventually play 2nd Run at neighborhood theatres and drive-ins. After all that was done, the movie would become AVAILABLE; in other words, available for any theatre or drive-in to double the movie up with another movie, or perhaps present it as part of a triple feature. This didn't happen to every movie; but it was, generally speaking, the way things were done. Also, new movies would usually open in theatres nationwide on a rollout basis. In other words, a movie would open in one market, or a handful of markets, on a certain date, and then slowly open up at other theatres around the country on various different dates. Back then, movies….. on the most part….. did not open nationwide on the same date as they typically do in today's world.
The always unreliable IMDb, and Wikipedia, have THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR listed as a United States "September 21, 1973" release date. That's almost true; the movie opened in New York on September 21, 1973; however, when today's researchers see that specific IMDb or Wikipedia solo date, they automatically believe that "September 21, 1973" is the one and only date the movie opened nationwide. In actuality, it had its World Premiere at the Woods Theatre in Chicago on August 31, 1973; and then subsequently opened in other cities throughout the nation during the rest of the year. A standard practice back then. However, there are some folks out there who have claimed THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was pulled from theatres after its "opening week", or during some other small period of time, due to pressure from the FBI......and never seen again.....until its DVD release in 2004. Other folks have claimed that the 35mm prints of the movie were seized and destroyed by government agents. It sounds like a bombastic story; angering moviegoers, theatre owners and filmmakers alike. The only problem is.......IT NEVER HAPPENED.
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR; a radical Black-themed movie about the first Black CIA agent who starts his own militant group in Mayor Daley's Chicago, played in movie theatres like any other movie at that time. It premiered on Friday, August 31, 1973 in Chicago (where the last half of the movie takes place; but mostly filmed in Gary, Indiana) and then started rolling out to other national markets during the ensuing months. However, there are internet historians who want you to believe that the movie was ordered removed from theatres because the FBI and/or the CIA were mortified by the movie's message and the mere idea that a Black man can infiltrate the CIA and launch an anti-government Black militant group. It’s all an urban legend if there ever was one. THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was never banned. It was never suppressed by the United States Government. The 35mm prints were not destroyed by federal agents. The movie played in theatres and drive-ins consistently during a period of ELEVEN YEARS.
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR is an interesting mess of a movie. It has a terrific lead performance by Lawrence Cook (1930 - 2003), and a competent cast of very good actors. The movie was directed by Ivan Dixon. It's not a particularly well-made film; but it is a decent time capsule of a movie. THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR is based on a 1969 book by Sam Greenlee (1930 - 2014). Mr. Greenlee also co-wrote the adapted screenplay and co-produced the movie. The movie was filmed more than likely during the latter half of 1972 and was ready by August 1973. The first screening, that I know of, took place at the Maryland Theatre on Chicago's South Side on August 22, 1973. The Maryland Theatre was chosen because it was located in the Woodlawn neighborhood, which is where Mr. Greenlee spent most of his life. It was a benefit premiere. Then, on Thursday, August 30, 1973, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR had a Thursday night soft opening at the Woods Theatre in Chicago.
On this particular Thursday night at the Woods, it was Closing Night for a Western double feature: PANCHO VILLA (1972) plus BAD MAN'S RIVER (1971). Between these two movies was a sneak preview of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR. So therefore, a Woods Theatre patron could've taken in a triple feature if they chose to on this summer night downtown. The next day, August 31, 1973; THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR opened as a regular theatrical engagement; its "World Premiere", as it was advertised in the newspaper, and it played at the Woods for five weeks. The opening weekend gross was excellent: $62,000. The local reviews weren't that great. Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune gave the movie ★ . Over at the Chicago Sun-Times; Roger Ebert was on vacation. The newspaper's fill-in critic, Carol White, gave it ★★1/2 . Despite that, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was on its way to cinematic history; unless you believe the cinema historian naysayers.
After the engagement at the Woods Theatre was completed on October 4, 1973, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR continued to play in Downtown Chicago at the nearby Roosevelt Theatre. The movie opened there on October 12, 1973, doubled up with another United Artists movie, WHITE LIGHTNING (1973). This double feature played at the Roosevelt for two weeks. Within a couple of months after the Chicago debut, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR slowly made its way around the United States. It opened in New York on September 21, 1973 at the DeMille Theatre and the Juliet Theatre. The movie played at the DeMille for nine weeks. Other major cities opened THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR during the rest of 1973. Los Angeles finally got it on December 19, 1973 at the Hollywood Theatre. The movie had a typical release pattern for its time. Therefore, for the feds to pressure the movie theatre owners to pull the film out of theatres "during its first week" is impossible. Which first week???? In Chicago??? In New York???? Where???? How??????
Opening Day dates in other markets throughout the United States include: Boston; October 3, 1973. Miami; October 5, 1973. Cleveland, Philadelphia, Atlanta; October 10, 1973. San Francisco, Indianapolis, Portland; October 17, 1973. Detroit; October 24, 1973. Phoenix; December 28, 1973.
In December 1973, the film's distributor, United Artists, re-released the movie in New York as part of a double feature with another UA film, I ESCAPED FROM DEVIL'S ISLAND (1973). After 1974 began, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR continued to play in theatres and drive-ins throughout the nation as a 2nd Run engagement; usually doubled up with another movie. During 1975, the movie continued to be available for theatrical engagements during the first half of the year. After that, there doesn't appear to be any theatrical bookings from the last half of 1975 all the way to June 1976. However, there were non-theatrical engagements being shown during this time at college campuses and other non-theatrical venues. It was around this time that United Artists decided not to distribute the movie anymore, and a newly-formed film company took over the distribution rights. The company was called American Transcontinental Pictures, a film distributor that was started in California by a Black orthodontist named Dr. Ralph Callender.
It was decided to re-release THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR in theatres with a new ad campaign. One tagline that was used: "THE FILM THEY DID NOT WANT YOU TO SEE". The first theatre to reopen THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was on June 18, 1976, at the Towne II Theatre in Memphis. It seemed like it was right about this time when Sam Greenlee began suggesting that the CIA, or some other federal agency, tried to shut this movie down when it first opened in 1973. As far as I can tell, he never mentioned anything like this during the previous three years when it was distributed by United Artists, but now all of sudden, in 1976, he started telling people some tall tales of the plight and government mistreatment of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR.
For example; In a November 4, 1976 article in the Evening Sun, a Baltimore newspaper, this was written: "' Spook' played all the major cities when it was released by United Artists. Greenlee now has the distribution rights, and he and his company are planning to sue the CIA and the National Security Agency, charging they collaborated with UA and the TransAmerica Corporation to take the film off the market because it was "dangerous to the welfare of the country". "It never played the secondary houses", Greenlee said.
That is a false statement. THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR played at multiple secondary houses between late 1973 all the way to 1984. It also played at drive-ins. There are plenty of newspaper ads online, at Newspapers.com, during this period that can prove that. As the years went on, Mr. Greenlee made appearances at film festivals and college and university campuses to promote the film at special screenings. He made some appearances at theatres when THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR was re-released in 1976. He basically spewed the same story on how the government was out to get his movie. This was the beginning of the urban legend of the banning of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR.
Other quotes attributed to THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR: J. Hoberman of the New York Times wrote in 2020: ****“Some weeks later, The Times ran a Sunday think piece with the headline ‘This ‘Spook’ Has No Respect for Human Life.” It concluded that “not just a film about Black people,” “Spook” was ‘a valuable lesson” in dramatizing “man’s response to oppression.’ By then, the movie had pretty much disappeared. Greenlee said that after three weeks in release, during which F.B.I. agents hounded exhibitors to pull the film, UA withdrew it from circulation, citing poor box office grosses. (According to the Internet Movie Database, “Spook” brought in $270,000 during its abortive run.)”.****
Nina Metz wrote in the Chicago Tribune in 2011: “Neither Canby’s mixed reaction in The New York Times, nor the fact that he gets Greenlee’s first name wrong (!) made even a tiny dent in the film’s prospects. Larger forces were at work. Shortly after it opened in theaters, the film vanished altogether — pulled by its distributor, some allege, bowing to pressure from the FBI. The narrative, about disciplined efforts to take down The Man through brain power and armed revolts, was intentionally controversial, and it doesn’t take a leap of the imagination to presume the film made those in certain corridors of power nervous enough to “disappear” the movie altogether.” Even the the Library of Congress couldn’t get it right in 2012: “Financed mostly by individual African-American investors, some commentators lambasted the film for its sanctioning of violence and distributor United Artists pulled the movie from theaters after a successful three-week run”.
After 1984, THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR had an occasional non-theatrical screening here and there, mainly at film festivals and college film programs. There was also some talk about “bootlegged” VHS tapes being available. And then, 2004 arrived, and a DVD of the movie was released. With the internet becoming more and more prominent, the myth became louder and louder. The DVD was reported to have been produced from "the last surviving print of the movie", said to have been discovered by actor and director Tim Reid. In a February 28, 2004 Los Angeles Times article, Reid said; “The movie was pulled. It was out for a few days, was pulled, and stayed in a vault for 30 years. They didn’t pull TRUCK TURNER. They didn’t pull THREE THE HARD WAY. Why pull this film? There was pressure on them, because it went against the grain, it was politically incorrect”.
In the ensuing years, the discussions of this movie's supposed horrible treatment were brewing, mainly by Mr. Greenlee himself. Any article, or any podcast, that discussed this movie always centered around various tales from different narratives. Some people have said the movie was pulled from theatres due to pressure from the FBI. Others have said the movie made FBI director J. Edgar Hoover so nervous that he sent agents to the individual theatres (during its first week) to confiscate the 35mm prints. That's amazing; considering Mr. Hoover died in 1972. Other folks have said online that the CIA sent their agents to the theatres to confiscate the 35mm prints and incinerate them. Yes, folks.....all this happened during the movie's "first week".....of a movie that rolled out in theatres throughout the United States during a four month period in 1973.
Most of this nonsense was uttered by Sam Greenlee; a man with an active imagination and a self-promoting mindset . Why did he do all this? Well, I can't prove it, but I think Mr. Greenlee had 3 goals: he wanted all these false stories to generate empathy, outrage and MONEY. People would hear about this 1970s Black movie, "banned by the United States Government", and they would pay to see what all the fuss is about. But there is no fuss. It's an impossible fable. There is no proof; no old newspaper articles; no old television news footage of federal agents raiding theatres and confiscating the 35mm prints. However, there are hundreds of old newspaper ads online of THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR, playing at theatres and drive-ins nationwide, on a consistent and sporadic basis, from 1973 until 1984.
THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR has been re-released in a 4K restoration. It might play at an indie film venue near you. I hope you see it.......a flawed, yet interesting film from a bygone era. I have a feeling many of these venues will promote the myth more than they will promote the movie. Recently, the Brooklyn Academy of Arts and the Maysles Documentary Center in New York screened this movie, and, of course, front and center, (paraphrasing here)....."This movie was pulled from theatres after the first week.....aborted by the federal government". Uh, no.....it played in theatres for ELEVEN YEARS. I hope any venue that plays this movie in the near future will concentrate on the film's merits and less on the film's myth. I hope they mention this movie was placed on the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 2012. Unfortunately, thanks to Sam Greenlee and others involved with this movie....and thanks to all the independent film venues, film scholars, film journalists, film historians and the LOC National Film Registry folks, who have all eaten up this false narrative......THE SPOOK WHO SAT BY THE DOOR has become more famous for all the things that did NOT happen to it.
Upcoming screenings in Comments Section.
Thanks for clearing this up.
https://wexarts.org/film-video/spook-who-sat-door?fbclid=IwY2xjawIgnSVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbiOCKT5sn5k0Sp94oiympjyz6F98brhqmJ6NnN6_2PIU8K8dmsrXRz3QQ_aem_IS3B7aWVCA9B5M6WCPSQXQ