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In the Heat of the Night Poster

In the Heat of the Night

PG-13
Movie
1967
1h 49m
English
Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie, the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.
Rating
WATCHMODE
8
IMDB
In the Heat of the Night (1967) on IMDb
CRITIC SCORE
85

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Sidney Poitier
Virgil Tibbs
Rod Steiger
Police Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren Oates
Deputy Sam Wood
Peter Whitney
Deputy Courtney
Lee Grant
Mrs. Leslie Colbert
William Schallert
Mayor Schubert
Scott Wilson
Harvey Oberst
Larry Gates
Eric Endicott
Quentin Dean
Delores Purdy
Beah Richards
Mama Caleba
Fred Stewart
Dr. Stuart
Eldon Quick
Charles Hawthorne
Jester Hairston
Endicott's Butler
Phil Adams
1st Tough
Directed By: Norman Jewison
Written By: Stirling Silliphant (Screenplay), John Ball (Novel)

Featured Comments/Tips

jekyl6669 says...
6 years ago
An excellent film noir with great performances by the leads and a social commentary that not only was potent for the time, but still resonates.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  300
Mr. DuLac says...
7 years ago
_I got the motive which is money and the body which is dead._ -Chief Gillespie I love the way the film isn't just about _Sidney Poitier_ versus the racists, but about a simple murder that would have probably been solved faster not just because of the racists, but because of how it alters _Tibbs_ own behavior. See you don't just have the hick town not wanting to listen to _Virgil Tibbs_ because he's black, but because _Virgil_ lets it effect his judgment. The best example is that he seems look past the racist remarks of the first suspect, maybe because he recognizes the ignorance in the uneducated man and gives him the benefit of the doubt.. but later on when he's confronted with racism from an educated successful man he wants to accuse him of murder with minimum evidence because you can't excuse his behavior with ignorance. Not only is this second guy a racist asshole, but he's benefited off it. Of course _Poitier_ is great along with _Rod Steiger_.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  200
stakahashi says...
5 years ago
Starts off with a great premise and is fascinating, but can't quite sustain its hold and drops off by the end. Nonetheless, great acting and character interactions that make it worth watching.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  100
hirkiti says...
one year ago
One of my top 10 favorite films. Amazing dialogue and the way the plot and the characters evolve is genius. I don’t see how anyone could not like and enjoy watching this movie.
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000

Featured User Reviews

drqshadow
9/10  8 months ago
While a sleepy Mississippi town tries its best to ignore the turning racial tides elsewhere in the nation, it’s shocked by the early-morning murder of an important businessman. A visiting Philadelphia police detective is initially suspected, primarily for being a black stranger with a fat wallet, More
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000
CinemaSerf
10 months ago
Warren Oates ("Wood") steps from his patrol car in the quiet town of Sparta and discovers the body of "Colbert" - a controversial local employer. Shortly afterwards he discovers "TIbbs" (Sidney Poitier) sitting waiting for the 4.05 train. He is black and there is a wealthy white murder victim on the More
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000
GenerationofSwine
one year ago
I have a love/hate thing for how this ended. It looked good but it was too dark... visually. I think they were going for a source lighting thing and failed a bit. It was realistically dark but not Hollywood viewer in mind dark.

Anyway the bad is out of the way, the good is the performance, it More
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JC230
7/10  2 years ago
Poiter was one of the greats and makes the film worth watching all on his lonesome. His searing, uncompromising Mr. Tibbs in a town smothering in its hatred of him is mesmerizing. The things the man can do with his eyes, taking everything in and a million thoughts he’s thought a million times amon More
Like  -  Dislike  -  Comment  -  000

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