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Feature film — 1967

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

7.71h 49mCrime — Drama — Mystery

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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A high-signal pick with 1,316 votes.

United Artists / The Mirisch Company

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Director: Norman Jewison

On screen

Cast & crew

Sidney Poitier as Det. Virgil Tibbs

Sidney Poitier

Det. Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger as Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Rod Steiger

Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Warren Oates as Deputy Sam Wood

Warren Oates

Deputy Sam Wood

Lee Grant as Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Lee Grant

Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Larry Gates as Eric Endicott

Larry Gates

Eric Endicott

James Patterson as Mr. Purdy

James Patterson

Mr. Purdy

William Schallert as Mayor Schubert

William Schallert

Mayor Schubert

Beah Richards as Mama Caleba

Beah Richards

Mama Caleba

Peter Whitney as Deputy Courtney

Peter Whitney

Deputy Courtney

K

Kermit Murdock

Henderson

L

Larry D. Mann

Watkins

Matt Clark as Packy Harrison

Matt Clark

Packy Harrison

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