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In the Heat of the Night

In the Heat of the Night

They got a murder on their hands. They don’t know what to do with it.

19677.71h 49m

Overview

African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie, the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.

Directed by Norman Jewison
Written by John Ball, Stirling Silliphant, Alan Bergman
Produced by Walter Mirisch
Box OfficeBudget: $2.0MRevenue: $27.4M

Top Cast

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier

Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger

Rod Steiger

Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Warren Oates

Warren Oates

Deputy Sam Wood

Peter Whitney

Peter Whitney

Deputy Courtney

Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Anthony James

Anthony James

Ralph

William Schallert

William Schallert

Mayor Schubert

Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson

Harvey Oberst

Larry Gates

Larry Gates

Eric Endicott

James Patterson

James Patterson

Mr. Purdy

Themes & Keywords

small townsouthern usapolice chiefstolen moneyracial segregationracistthiefmurderyouth gangracismwhodunitpovertyfalse accusationspolice stationracial tensionbigotryautopsy roomred herringrailroad stationwhite supremacistsnymphettebigotdeep southcotton plantationsouthern small townrumbleillegal abortionistjumping to conclusions

About In the Heat of the Night

In the Heat of the Night is a crime, drama, mystery, thriller film released in 1967 exploring themes of small town, southern usa, police chief, stolen money, racial segregation, racist. Directed by Norman Jewison, it stars Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates. African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie, the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.

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