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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Overview

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Down 7% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Norman Jewison
Writers:
Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)
John Ball (based on a novel by)
Contact:
View company contact information for In the Heat of the Night on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 October 1967 (Japan) See more »
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
They got a murder on their hands . . . they don't know what to do with it. See more »
Plot:
An African American police detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racially hostile southern town. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 12 nominations See more »
NewsDesk:
(142 articles)
Allan Arbus obituary
 (From The Guardian - Film News. 25 April 2013, 8:17 AM, PDT)
Allan Arbus obituary
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 25 April 2013, 8:17 AM, PDT)
Poll: AFI Presents 12 Classic Movies on One Night; Which Would You Choose to See?
 (From Fandango. 10 April 2013, 4:01 PM, PDT)
User Reviews:
The essence of modern-day film noir See more (142 total) »

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 (based on a novel by)

Produced by
Walter Mirisch .... producer
 
Original Music by
Quincy Jones (music by)
 
Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler (director of photography)
 
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 .... lyricist: songs
Marilyn Bergman .... lyricist: songs
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 CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Sound)
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1968) | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:12 | USA:Approved (Suggested for Mature Audiences) | West Germany:12 (f) | Australia:M | South Africa:(Banned) | Iceland:16 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Brazil:12 | South Africa:A (re-rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:14 (orginal rating)
Filming Locations:
Belleville, Illinois, USASee more »
Company:
Mirisch Corporation, TheSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Set in a hot Mississippi summer but filmed during autumn in Illinois, many of the actors had to keep ice chips in their mouths (and spit them out before takes) to prevent their breath from appearing on camera during the night scenes.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: When the sheriff is called to go and see the Mayor at his place of work Rod Steiger drives through Sparta and passes an elderly black gentlemen on the sidewalk . He is dressed in a shabby suit wearing a beige V-neck sweater and a hat. You then see the car drive a few hundred yards further into town and in the next shot, a few seconds later the same 'extra' is again walking along the sidewalk.See 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.
See more »
Movie Connections:
Featured in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.21" (2011)See more »
Soundtrack:
It Sure Is Groovy!See more »

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Is this movie based on a novel?
Why was Colbert killed?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
19 out of 25 people found the following review useful.
The essence of modern-day film noir, 4 May 2006
Author: robb_772 from United States

One of the best films of all time, a Best Picture Oscar winner, and a highly deserved one at that. After reading a plot summary, it would be easy for someone to classify Norman Jewison's IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT as a simple buddy-cop movie, but it is so much more - this is film-making at it's finest. An absolutely merciless mystery, NIGHT contains some incredibly intense scenes that might make some viewers uncomfortable (the garage confrontation comes immediately to mind).

The film is expertly put together, with the feel of heady film noir. The performances are first rate: both Poitier and Rod Steiger were nominated for Best Actor, with the Oscar actually going home to Steiger (the film won four other Oscars as well). The Poitier-Steiger pairing is one of the most potent in film history, and their slowly growing friendship is one of the most touching. is a glowing example of what happens when an excellent cast, director, and screenplay combine to make an exceptional film.

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Message Boards

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