
Feature film — 1967
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
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.
The note
Stay for the details.
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
Det. Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger
Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Warren Oates
Deputy Sam Wood

Lee Grant
Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Larry Gates
Eric Endicott

James Patterson
Mr. Purdy

William Schallert
Mayor Schubert

Beah Richards
Mama Caleba

Peter Whitney
Deputy Courtney
Kermit Murdock
Henderson
Larry D. Mann
Watkins

Matt Clark
Packy Harrison
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