Race and the Revolutionary Impulse in the Spook Who Sat by the Door

Michael T. Martin (Edited by), David C. Wall (Edited by), Marilyn Yaquinto (Edited by), Christine A. Acham (Contributions by), Samantha N. Sheppard (Contributions by), Sam Greenlee (Contributions by)

9780253031754

Hardback, published 1 March 2018

238 pages, 43 b&w illus. - 43 Illustrations, black and white
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.49 kg

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.

Acknowledgements
Introduction: The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Michael T. Martin and David C. Wall
1. Writer/Producer's Statement: The Making of The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Sam Greenlee
2. "[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. Wall
3. Cinema as Political Activism: Contemporary Meanings in The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Marilyn Yaquinto
4. Persistently Displaced: Situated Knowledges and Interrelated Histories in The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Samantha N. Sheppard
5. Subverting the System: The Politics and Production of The Spook Who Sat By the Door / Christine Acham
6. The Spook Who Sat By the Door, Screenplay / Sam Greenlee and Melvin Clay
Appendix A: Press Kit
Appendix B: National Film Registry Entry, The Spook Who Sat by the Door / Michael T. Martin and David C. Wall
Appendix C: Sam Greenlee: Biography and Select Bibliography
Appendix D: Ivan Dixon: Biography and Select Filmography
Index