IMDb > In the Heat of the Night (1967)
In the Heat of the Night
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In the Heat of the Night (1967) More at IMDbPro »

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In the Heat of the Night (1967) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   20,922 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Norman Jewison
Writers:
Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)
John Ball (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for In the Heat of the Night on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 October 1967 (Japan) more
Genre:
Drama | Mystery | Crime more
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:
more
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
1999: A Look Back
 (From JoBlo. 23 November 2009, 6:36 AM, PST)
Bad Boys Grow Up
 (From IFC. 17 November 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The Growing Pains of the New South more (120 total)
US TV Schedule:
Mon. Dec. 75:30 AMMAX   

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
Scott Wilson ... Harvey Oberst
Timothy Scott ... Shagbag
William Watson ... McNeil (as William C. Watson)
Eldon Quick ... Charles Hawthorne
Stuart Nisbet ... Shuie
Khalil Bezaleel ... Jess
Peter Masterson ... Fryer
Jester Hairston ... Butler
Phil Adams ... 1st Tough
Nikita Knatz ... 2nd Tough
Sammy Reese ... Clerk (as Sam Reese)
Anthony James ... Ralph
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Buzz Barton ... Conductor (uncredited)
Philip Garris ... Engineer (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt ... Deputy (uncredited)
Warren Kenner ... Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Michael LeGlaire ... City Councilman (uncredited)
Alan Oppenheimer ... Ted Appleton (uncredited)
David Stinehart ... Baggage Master (uncredited)
Jack Teter ... Philip Colbert - Murder Victim (uncredited)
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Directed by
Norman Jewison 
 
Writing credits
Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)

John Ball (novel)

Produced by
Walter Mirisch .... producer
 
Original Music by
Quincy Jones (music by)
 
Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler 
 
Film Editing by
Hal Ashby 
 
Casting by
Lynn Stalmaster 
 
Art Direction by
Paul Groesse 
 
Set Decoration by
Robert Priestley 
 
Costume Design by
Alan Levine (uncredited)
 
Makeup Department
Del Armstrong .... make-up
 
Production Management
Jim Henderling .... production manager (as James E. Henderling)
Howard Joslin .... unit production manager (as J. Howard Joslin)
Allen K. Wood .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Newt Arnold .... second assistant director (as Newton Arnold)
Terry Morse Jr. .... first assistant director
 
Art Department
Stephen R. Ferry .... property
Joseph Musso .... production illustrator (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Walter Goss .... sound
Clem Portman .... re-recordist
James Richard .... sound editor
Kevin F. Cleary .... sound (uncredited)
Charles Cooper .... sound (uncredited)
 
Stunts
John Moio .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Ralph Gerling .... camera operator (uncredited)
Ross A. Maehl .... gaffer (uncredited)
Morris Rosen .... key grip (uncredited)
Don Stott .... gaffer (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alan Levine .... costumer: men
 
Editorial Department
Byron 'Buzz' Brandt .... assistant film editor (as Byron Brandt)
 
Music Department
Alan Bergman .... song lyrics (as Alan)
Marilyn Bergman .... song lyrics
Richard Carruth .... music editor
 
Other crew
Hal Ashby .... assistant to producer
Murray Naidich .... titles
Meta Rebner .... script supervisor
Wayne Fitzgerald .... title designer (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
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:
Belleville, Illinois, USA more
Company:
Mirisch Corporation, The more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #75 Greatest Movie of All Time. It was the first inclusion of this film on the list. more
Goofs:
Plot holes: It's suppose to be set during a very hot summer, yet the main characters (played by Lee Grant and Rod Steiger) are walking around in a coat and a jacket. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Psych: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, He Loves Me, Oops He's Dead (#1.11)" (2007) more
Soundtrack:
Foul Owl on the Prowl more

FAQ

How did the osmundia branch figure into the killing?
How was the final scene shot?
What was Gillespie chewing on throughout the whole film?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
13 out of 17 people found the following comment useful.
The Growing Pains of the New South, 11 May 2007
10/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

In order to understand what's happening in In the Heat of the Night you have to realize that it is set in a very specific time period. The Civil Rights Act had been passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. But the impact of those laws was only beginning to be felt.

Especially the Voting Rights Act. The town of Sparta, Mississippi where William Schallert was Mayor and Rod Steiger was sheriff now has a significant new voting population and blacks might be a majority in that county. But even if they aren't, they know have a voice in the electoral process. Someone like Steiger has to take that into account now. Of course some of his deputies might not yet be with the program which explains why when a murder/robbery is committed of a very prominent northern businessman, Warren Oates sees fit to roust Sidney Poitier who's an unfamiliar black face in that town.

What a surprise they all get when they find out he's a top Philadelphia, Pennsylvania homicide detective and when his identity is established, his boss in Philly offers his services.

Poitier and Steiger both have to work through their prejudices, how each sees the other to solve this mystery which writer Stirling Silliphant gives us several red herrings before we learn the truth. Though Steiger got the Oscar for Best Actor, it should really have been a joint award. Their conflict and growing respect for each other drives the film. Steiger needs his expertise and respects him for that and Poitier comes to respect Steiger for his honesty.

Norman Jewison got great performances from his stars and the supporting cast of whom Warren Oates as the dimwit redneck deputy really shines.

Though set in a very narrow period of our history, In the Heat of the Night holds up very well with some eternal truths in its story. And it's the story of times that were a changing as one spokesman of the sixties put it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for In the Heat of the Night (1967)
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Race Tension Misdirection Vader999
'Fooooul owl on the prowl!' + other funny scenes... firebringer700
'Ya dig?' / 'I don't neeed it' rogueforte
In the Heat Of The Night ross-noble
Courtney and his brother ranier
'I was visiting my mother.' (serious flaw?) Mononoke-hime
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