They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Alan Trustman (screenplay) &
James R. Webb (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 July 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The last time Virgil Tibbs had a day like this was "In The Heat Of The Night"

Plot:

San Francisco Police Lieutenant Virgil Tibbs is called in to investigate when a liberal street preacher...

Plot Keywords:

Police | Prostitute | Preacher | Police Investigation | Nude Woman Murdered

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Virgil Tibbs
Martin Landau	...	Logan Sharpe
Barbara McNair	...	Valerie Tibbs
Anthony Zerbe	...	Rice Weedon
Edward Asner	...	Woody Garfield
Jeff Corey	...	Captain Marden
Norma Crane	...	Marge Garfield
Juano Hernandez	...	Mealie Williamson
David Sheiner	...	Lieutenant Kenner
Beverly Todd	...	Puff
Ted Gehring	...	Sergeant Deutsch
Linda Towne	...	Joy Sturges
Garry Walberg	...	Medical Examiner
George Spell	...	Andy Tibbs
Wanda Spell	...	Ginger Tibbs

MPAA:

Rated R for a violent scene with nudity.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | West Germany:16 (nf) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:R (re-rating) (1996) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Mirisch Corporation, The

Trivia:

John Hillerman's first movie.

Quotes:

[talking about Rice Weedon]
Puff: You killed him.
Virgil Tibbs: Look, let's get the record straight. He started that shoot out.
Puff: Well, you bastard, you killed the wrong man he didn't do it!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Futurama: That's Lobstertainment! (#3.8)" (2001)

Typical 1970's crime thriller with atypical great acting

Despite the flaws noted above with regards to continuity and occasional lapses in writing, the movie is saved by the great acting provided by Sidney Poitier, Anthony Zerbe, Martin Landau, and Ed Asner (despite his short appearance). Poitier delivers the same riveting performance he did as in the successful In the Heat of the Night, adding a family life that is pretty typical for a father who is often away from his children. Anthony Zerbe is a shade better, however, in his role as sleazy landlord Rice Weedon. Zerbe was tailor-made for this role, as his ability to play bad guys is utilized perfectly. Martin Landau as the reverend does what is expected and more, adding a human quality that is even throughout. Ed Asner as the nervy manager takes everything that he had (not very much) and ran with it, making his character believable. I would recommend this movie highly to anyone who enjoys movies of this era and genre- particularly if you are fond of gritty, down in the mud reality.