In the Heat of the Night is a 1967 American neo-noir mystery drama film directed by Norman Jewison. It is based on John Ball's 1965 novel of the same name and tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi. The film stars Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger and was produced by Walter Mirisch.
It was nominated for seven Oscars, winning five, including Best Picture and Best Actor. The film's theme of racial unity was praised by Time magazine, and it has been lauded for its performances and social commentary. The film's cinematography and production design have also been highly acclaimed, and it is considered one of the most enduring Hollywood films of the civil rights era.
Plot
In the Heat of the Night is a crime drama film that tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in a murder investigation in the small town of Sparta, Mississippi. The plot unfolds as follows:
The film begins with the murder of Phillip Colbert. Local deputy Sam Wood arrests Virgil Tibbs, a black man waiting for a train to Memphis, suspecting him to be the killer. However, Tibbs's Chief of Police in Philadelphia confirms that he is a police officer and a skilled homicide detective, and he offers to help the Sparta police force solve the murder.
Tibbs forms an uneasy alliance with the bigoted police chief, Bill Gillespie, who faces mounting pressure from Sparta's hostile citizens to catch the killer and run the African-American interloper out of town.
Tibbs's investigation reveals that the Sparta police force is arresting innocent people to get a confession. His high-quality detective work ensures that no innocent person will go to prison for the crime.
The story addresses issues of systemic racism and offers hope for a better, more compassionate future. It features strong performances from Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, and its cinematography and production design have been highly praised.
The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is considered one of the most enduring Hollywood films of the civil rights era.
Trailer
Cast
- Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs
- Rod Steiger as Bill Gillespie
- Warren Oates as Sam Wood
- Lee Grant as Mrs. Colbert
- Larry Gates as Eric Endicott
- James Patterson as Mr. Purdy
- William Schallert as Mayor Schubert
- Beah Richards as Mama Caleba
- Peter Whitney as Courtney
- Kermit Murdock as Henderson
- Larry D. Mann as Watkins
- Matt Clark as Packy Harrison
- Arthur Malet as Ulam
- Fred Stewart as Dr. Stuart
- Quentin Dean as Delores Purdy
- Scott Wilson as Harvey Oberst
- Timothy Scott as Shagbag
- William C. Watson as McNeil
- Eldon Quick as Charles Hawthorne
- Stuart Nisbet as Shuie
- Khalil Bezaleel as Jess
- Peter Masterson as Fryer
- Jester Hairston as butler
- Phil Adams as 1st tough
- Nikita Knatz as 2nd tough
- Sam Reese as clerk
- Anthony James as Ralph
- Clegg Hoyt as deputy (uncredited)
- Alan Oppenheimer as Ted Appleton (uncredited)
- Buzz Barton as train conductor (uncredited)
Director: Norman Jewison
Writer: Stirling Silliphant
Box Office Gross: $27,669
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 2, 1967
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 25, 2010
Themes & reception
Racial relations: The film addresses the issue of systemic racism and the tension between white people and black people in the United States during that time. The story revolves around a black police detective from Philadelphia investigating a murder in a small town in Mississippi, where the local police force is initially suspicious of him.
Justice and fairness: The film highlights the importance of finding the truth and ensuring that justice is served. The main character, Virgil Tibbs, is determined to solve the murder and maintain his integrity as a detective, even when faced with pressure from the local police force and the community.
Law enforcement and corruption: The movie portrays the Sparta police force as corrupt, with the local deputy arresting an innocent man simply because he is black. Tibbs's involvement in the investigation helps to expose the corruption and ensures that the real killer is brought to justice.
Performance and acting: The film has been praised for its strong performances, particularly those of Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Poitier's portrayal of Virgil Tibbs has been noted for its excellence, and Steiger's performance as the bigoted police chief has also been lauded.
Cinematography and production: The film has been commended for its elegant and shot-for-shot storytelling, with the cinematography and production design being highly praised. The film's use of lighting and camera angles effectively contribute to the overall atmosphere and theme of the movie.
Social commentary: In the Heat of the Night has been described as a "liberal message movie that worked" by Slate Magazine, which highlights the film's relevance to the civil rights movement and its impact on social issues.
Setting
The film In the Heat of the Night is set in the fictional town of Sparta, Mississippi. This setting was adapted from the original novel by screenwriter Stirling Silliphant for the 1967 film adaptation. The decision to change the setting to Sparta and move the character of Virgil Tibbs from Pasadena P.D. to Philadelphia was made during the adaptation process.
Visual Styles & Techniques
The visual style and techniques employed in In the Heat of the Night are notable aspects of the film's cinematography. Haskell Wexler, the film's cinematographer, utilized innovative lighting techniques to treat the black and white performers equally, aiming to avoid the traditional biases in movie lighting that hierarchize characters based on their importance.
Wexler's approach to lighting was influenced by the need to address the issue of glare on people with darker skin complexions, ensuring that details in their facial features were visible and avoiding alienation of people of color portrayed in the film. The visual style of the film was characterized by underlit, dark, and almost monochromatic color schemes, contributing to a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere.
Trivia
- The film was banned in South Africa by the Publications Control Board due to its portrayal of racial tensions.
- The film's theme song, "In the Heat of the Night," was written by Quincy Jones and became a hit single.
- The film was adapted from John Ball's 1965 novel of the same name, which was the first in a series of eight novels featuring the character of Virgil Tibbs.
- Sidney Poitier was the first black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film.
- The film's director, Norman Jewison, was initially hesitant to take on the project due to his lack of experience with racial issues. However, he was convinced to direct the film after reading the script and meeting with Sidney Poitier.
- The film's cinematographer, Haskell Wexler, used innovative lighting techniques to treat the black and white performers equally, avoiding traditional biases in movie lighting that hierarchize characters based on their importance.
- The film was followed by two sequels, "They Call Me Mister Tibbs!" (1970) and "The Organization" (1971), both of which starred Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs.
Fun Fact
- The scene where Virgil Tibbs and Sam Wood discuss the murder case at the sheriff's house features dialog that came out of improvisations between Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. This ad-libbed conversation showcases the chemistry between the two actors and adds a more natural and dynamic element to the scene.
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