In the Heat of the Night


Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama, Crime
1967

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Homicide detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) finds himself in Mississippi, where he agrees to help a racist sheriff (Rod Steiger) solve a perplexing murder.

Review:

Tim: This movie works so well because it combines so much. This is an entertaining and complex murder mystery. It is also a commentary on racial relationships. The story involves overcoming prejudices, arrogance, and hatred. This is a movie that does so much so well that it is easy to overlook its significance. Most important of all, the movie is incredibly fun to watch.

Sidney Poitier is outstanding as Virgil Tibbs. I am surprised that he was not nominated for an Academy Award, although I suppose it makes more sense when you learn that Rod Steiger was nominated- and won- the Academy Award for Best Actor (I still saw him as supporting, but what do I know?). Steiger is likewise excellent. In many ways, he did have the harder task. He had to play a complex, layered man that deals with his own racism, while struggling to admit that Tibbs is a brilliant, impressive human being. His transformation- and his struggle- is so crucial to the story.

The movie boasts one of the all-time classic lines- "They call me Mr. Tibbs!" This whole scene between Steiger and Poitier is just excellent. The emotions are running so high, and this is just such a fun scene. The movie is memorable because the racism of the Mississippi citizens and how Tibbs struggles against and overcomes it.

In the Heat of the Night is a classic 60's film that won 5 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It is an emotional, powerful film that is also very entertaining. The movie is quite good, and one that you definitely need to see.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Lilies of the Field, They Call Me Mister Tibbs!