small town,southern usa,black people,police chief,stolen money,racial segregation,racist,murder,youth gang,racism,whodunit,poverty,false accusations,police station,racial tension,bigotry,autopsy room,red herring,railroad station,white supremacists,nymphette,bigot,deep south,cotton plantation,southern small town,rumble,illegal abortionist,petty thief,jumping to conclusions,preserved film

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Poster for In the Heat of the Night

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

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.

Cast & Crew

Director
Norman Jewison
  • Profile picture of Sidney Poitier
    Virgil Tibbs Sidney Poitier
  • Profile picture of Rod Steiger
    Police Chief Bill Gillespie Rod Steiger
  • Profile picture of Warren Oates
    Deputy Sam Wood Warren Oates
  • Profile picture of Peter Whitney
    Deputy Courtney Peter Whitney
  • Profile picture of Lee Grant
    Mrs. Leslie Colbert Lee Grant
  • Profile picture of Anthony James
    Ralph Anthony James
  • Profile picture of William Schallert
    Mayor Schubert William Schallert
  • Profile picture of Scott Wilson
    Harvey Oberst Scott Wilson

Videos

Recommendations

  • Poster for Oliver!
  • Poster for To Sir, with Love
  • Poster for Hurlyburly
  • Poster for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
  • Poster for Dillinger
  • Poster for Police
  • Poster for And God Said to Cain
  • Poster for They Call Me Mister Tibbs!

Keywords

  • small town
  • southern usa
  • black people
  • police chief
  • stolen money
  • racial segregation
  • racist
  • murder
  • youth gang
  • racism
  • whodunit
  • poverty
  • false accusations
  • police station
  • racial tension
  • bigotry
  • autopsy room
  • red herring
  • railroad station
  • white supremacists
  • nymphette
  • bigot
  • deep south
  • cotton plantation
  • southern small town
  • rumble
  • illegal abortionist
  • petty thief
  • jumping to conclusions
  • preserved film