In the Heat of the Night (1967)

  • PG-13
  • 08/02/1967 (US)
  • Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
  • 1h 49m

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

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.

John Ball

Novel

Stirling Silliphant

Screenplay

Norman Jewison

Director

Cast

Sidney Poitier's headshot

Sidney Poitier

Virgil Tibbs
Rod Steiger's headshot

Rod Steiger

Police Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren Oates's headshot

Warren Oates

Deputy Sam Wood
Peter Whitney's headshot

Peter Whitney

Deputy Courtney
Lee Grant's headshot

Lee Grant

Mrs. Leslie Colbert
Anthony James's headshot

Anthony James

Ralph
William Schallert's headshot

William Schallert

Mayor Schubert
Scott Wilson's headshot

Scott Wilson

Harvey Oberst

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