| Photos (see all 23 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 6) |
| 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) | |
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) | |
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| The Liberation of L.B. Jones | Intruder in the Dust | They Won't Forget | ...tick... tick... tick... | Gone with the Wind |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
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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.