In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Release date: 1967-08-02
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Norman Jewison
Production Co: The Mirisch Corporation
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Crime, Mystery
Rating: 8.0/10
Length: 1h 50min

Storyline

Detective Virgil Tibbs is caught up in the racial tension of the US South when he is arrested after the murder of a prominent businessman. Tibbs was simply waiting for his next train at the station in Sparta, Mississippi and the confusion is soon resolved but when local police chief Gillespie learns that Tibbs is the Philadelphia PD's number one homicide expert, he reluctantly asks for his assistance. The murdered man, Mr. Colbert, had come to Sparta from the North to build a new factory and his wife and business associates immediately point the finger at Endicott, the most powerful man in the county and the one who had the most to lose if a major new employer comes to the area. Tibbs' life is clearly in danger but he perseveres in a highly charged and racially explosive environment until the killer is found.

Plot Keywords

african american, racial tension, small town, southern u.s., abortion, racism, prejudice, voyeur, racial slur, discrimination, face slap, criminal investigation, based on novel, loss of husband, false accusation, detective, police, homicide, police chief, racist

Short Review

Poitier's excellent performance both transcends and lifts the pretensions of the film, eschewing earlier mannerisms and projecting a wealth of emotion in facial communication.