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In the Heat of the Night (1967)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
14 October 1967 (Japan)
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Tagline:
They got a murder on their hands . . . they don't know what to do with it. more
Plot:
An African American detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racist southern town. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars.
Another 17 wins
&
12 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(20 articles)
Bad Boys Grow Up
(From IFC. 17 November 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
Tom Hanks, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 4:45 PM, PST)
(From IFC. 17 November 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
Tom Hanks, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty: Governors Awards 2009
(From Alternative Film Guide. 15 November 2009, 4:45 PM, PST)
User Comments:
flawless movie, deserved Best Picture
more (120 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Sidney Poitier | ... | Virgil Tibbs |
 | Rod Steiger | ... | Gillespie |
 | Warren Oates | ... | Sam Wood |
| Lee Grant | ... | Mrs. Colbert |
| Larry Gates | ... | Endicott |
| James Patterson | ... | Mr. Purdy |
| William Schallert | ... | Mayor Schubert |
| Beah Richards | ... | Mama Caleba |
| Peter Whitney | ... | Courtney |
| Kermit Murdock | ... | Henderson |
| Larry D. Mann | ... | Watkins |
| Matt Clark | ... | Packy |
| Arthur Malet | ... | Ulam |
| Fred Stewart | ... | Dr. Stuart |
| Quentin Dean | ... | Delores |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Sound)
Certification:
Australia:M |
South Africa:(Banned) |
Iceland:16 |
Canada:A (Nova Scotia) |
Brazil:12 |
South Africa:A (re-rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Canada:G (Quebec) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:16 (1968) |
Singapore:PG |
Sweden:15 |
UK:12 |
USA:Approved |
West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The scene that took place at the sheriff's house featured dialog that came out of improvisations between Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.
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Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: The police chase Harvey Oberst through the yellow leaves of an Autumn forest, clearly indicating it is not the middle of summer, as claimed in the movie.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Ofcr. Sam Wood: Where you keeping the pie tonight?
Ralph Henshaw, diner counterman: I ate the last piece just before you came in.
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Ofcr. Sam Wood: Where you keeping the pie tonight?
Ralph Henshaw, diner counterman: I ate the last piece just before you came in.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Wild Rebels (#3.7)" (1990)
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Soundtrack:
In the Heat of the Night
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FAQ
Why was Colbert killed?Is this movie based on a novel?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
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more (120 total)
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There are many bad "issues" movies out there, but this is not one of them. In a bad movie, all of the racist characters would be one dimensional and one hundred percent evil; here, Steiger is allowed to play a prejudiced man who is actually sympathetic and capable of growth (hence the Oscar). In a great twist, Virgil Tibbs himself is shown to be capable of prejudice, as he pursues Endicott without sufficient evidence. It's refreshing to see a movie that portrays the entire spectrum of racism, from the crazy extremists (and there are plenty of those on hand here) to the more subtly prejudiced.
"Mississippi Burning," a weaker effort, is not only more tediously didactic, but also less progressive; that film doesn't feature a protagonist like Virgil Tibbs, and instead focuses on the actions of two white federal agents. In this case, the old movie really is the better movie; produced at the height of the civil rights struggle, "In the Heat of the Night" feels more immediate and passionate than preachy films on the subject that were made years later, after the tension had died down.
Some reviewers complain that the mystery segments of the film are confusing, but I follow them without much trouble. Tibbs does a great Sherlock Holmes routine throughout, as he pieces together the solution based on clues that are also available to viewers. Sure, the ending is surprising, but it doesn't come entirely out of left field; I actually admire the subtle ways that clues are sewn throughout the film. If you're not used to mysteries, the barrage of red herrings and dead-end clues might surprise you, but it's pretty standard stuff for the genre.
I knew about the classic line "They call me Mr. Tibbs!" long before I actually saw this movie. I used to wonder why the line was so famous; it doesn't sound that exciting, does it? But when I finally heard Poitier say it in context, I asked my brother to pause the tape so I could cheer without missing any of the subsequent dialog. That's how excited I get during this movie. The performances are so naturalistic, and the racial conflict so vividly drawn, that I get pulled into the action completely. Though 1967 was a strong year for films, I still think that the right one got Best Picture, and not just because it was topical; "In the Heat of the Night" is a well-directed, superb character study, populated by some of the most vivid characters I've ever encountered in a movie.