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IMDbPro

In the Heat of the Night

  • 19671967
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
78K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,936
968
Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, and Warren Oates in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer2:46
3 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
A black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the... Read allA black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case.A black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
78K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,936
968
    • Norman Jewison
    • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
    • John Ball(based on a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Rod Steiger
    • Warren Oates
    • Norman Jewison
    • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
    • John Ball(based on a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Sidney Poitier
    • Rod Steiger
    • Warren Oates
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 273User reviews
    • 105Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 5 Oscars

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:46
    Watch Official Trailer
    In The Heat Of The Night: Mr. Tibbs Slaps Endicott
    Clip 4:15
    Watch In The Heat Of The Night: Mr. Tibbs Slaps Endicott
    In The Heat Of The Night: They Call Me Mr. Tibbs
    Clip 1:32
    Watch In The Heat Of The Night: They Call Me Mr. Tibbs

    Photos159

    Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Anthony James, and Warren Oates in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier and Lee Grant in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier, Haskell Wexler, and Norman Jewison in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Timothy Scott, and Scott Wilson in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, and Norman Jewison in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Quentin Dean, and James Patterson in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier and Warren Oates in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, and Lee Grant in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier and Anthony James in In the Heat of the Night (1967)
    Sidney Poitier in In the Heat of the Night (1967)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Sidney Poitier
    Sidney Poitier
    • Det. Virgil Tibbs
    Rod Steiger
    Rod Steiger
    • Chief Bill Gillespie
    Warren Oates
    Warren Oates
    • Officer Sam Wood
    Lee Grant
    Lee Grant
    • Mrs. Colbert
    Larry Gates
    Larry Gates
    • Eric Endicott
    James Patterson
    James Patterson
    • Mr. Purdy
    William Schallert
    William Schallert
    • Mayor Schubert
    Beah Richards
    Beah Richards
    • Mama Caleba
    Peter Whitney
    Peter Whitney
    • Courtney
    Kermit Murdock
    Kermit Murdock
    • Henderson
    Larry D. Mann
    Larry D. Mann
    • Watkins
    Matt Clark
    Matt Clark
    • Packy Harrison
    Arthur Malet
    Arthur Malet
    • Ulam
    Fred Stewart
    Fred Stewart
    • Dr. Stuart
    Quentin Dean
    Quentin Dean
    • Delores Purdy
    Scott Wilson
    Scott Wilson
    • Harvey Oberst
    Timothy Scott
    Timothy Scott
    • Shagbag
    William Watson
    William Watson
    • McNeil
    • (as William C. Watson)
      • Norman Jewison
      • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
      • John Ball(based on a novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sidney Poitier insisted that the movie be filmed in the North because of an incident in which he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by Ku Klux Klansmen during a visit to Mississippi. That's why Sparta, IL, was chosen for location filming. Nevertheless, the filmmakers and actors did venture briefly into Tennessee for the outdoor scenes at the cotton plantation, because there was no similar cotton plantation in Illinois that could be used. Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow during production in Tennessee. He did receive threats from local racist thugs, so the shoot was cut short and production returned to Illinois.
    • Goofs
      When people are shown going onto the Mississippi River bridge, there is an Arkansas highway sign, something that would not have been seen on the Mississippi side of the river.
    • Quotes

      Gillespie: Virgil? That's a funny name for a n***er boy that comes from Philadelphia. What do they call you up there?

      Virgil Tibbs: They call me MISTER TIBBS!

    • Crazy credits
      No uppercase ("capital") letters are used in the opening and closing credits, including the film's title, cast and characters, crew and job titles, and company credits.
    • Alternate versions
      The 2001 MGM and 2002 United Artists opening fanfares and closing 2001 MGM logo originally appeared in the 2008 DVD and Blu-ray prints. But in the Criterion Blu-ray and Kino Lorber 4K release, the MGM logos were plastered with the 2012 variants.
    • Connections
      Featured in Film Review: Film Review (1967)
    • Soundtracks
      In the Heat of the Night
      Music by Quincy Jones (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Alan Bergman (uncredited) and Marilyn Bergman (uncredited)

      Sung by Ray Charles

    User reviews273

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Well-Crafted Murder Mystery With A Twist
    IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT is a well-crafted murder mystery with a twist. Sidney Poitier is a big city detective wrongfully arrested by a racist small police detachment after the brutal murder of the town's would-be financial savior. Once the matter is resolved and Poitier released, he finds himself aiding his former captors, including Police Chief Rod Steiger, in their quest to get to the bottom of the crime.

    An Academy Award winner for Best Picture, IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT works on so many levels. It's a solid, unpredictable whodunit with beautiful cinematography and crisp direction from Norman Jewison. All the actors are on top of their games, particularly Steiger, whose not-entirely-likable chief gradually looks past his prejudices to warm up to Poitier. Poitier is his usual superb self, once again maintaining his vast dignity as the target of bigotry, much like he did in THE DEFIANT ONES.

    And like THE DEFIANT ONES, a key theme in IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT is racism. In fact the racism on display here is so fierce and perverse that it's almost hard to believe (though I'm sure it didn't stretch a thing). You can't help but feel an emotional attachment to Poitier as he's subjected to taunts, attempted attacks, and off-color remarks from those who either don't realize the power of their words or don't care. Poitier proves again why he is perhaps the finest African-American actor ever to grace the screen.

    IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT is one of those movies that, while not perfect, is impossible to dislike. It's classic, though still relevant, entertainment.
    helpful•53
    9
    • ReelCheese
    • Dec 3, 2006

    FAQ8

    • Why didn't Gillespie arrest the men who attacked Tibbs in the warehouse? (What they were doing was a crime.)
    • What is 'In the Heat of the Night' about?
    • Is 'In the Heat of the Night' based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 2, 1967 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Sparta, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • The Mirisch Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 50 minutes
      • Color
      • Stereo
      • Dolby Digital

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