A black police detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racially hostile southern town.A black police detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racially hostile southern town.A black police detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racially hostile southern town.
- Director
- Writers
- Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
- John Ball(based on a novel by)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
- John Ball(based on a novel by)
- Stars
- Won 5 Oscars
- 23 wins & 15 nominations total
Videos1
William Watson
- McNeilas McNeil
- (as William C. Watson)
- Director
- Writers
- Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
- John Ball(based on a novel by)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Detective Virgil Tibbs is caught up in the racial tension of the US South when he is arrested after the murder of a prominent businessman. Tibbs was simply waiting for his next train at the station in Sparta, Mississippi and the confusion is soon resolved but when local police chief Gillespie learns that Tibbs is the Philadelphia PD's number one homicide expert, he reluctantly asks for his assistance. The murdered man, Mr. Colbert, had come to Sparta from the North to build a new factory and his wife and business associates immediately point the finger at Endicott, the most powerful man in the county and the one who had the most to lose if a major new employer comes to the area. Tibbs' life is clearly in danger but he perseveres in a highly charged and racially explosive environment until the killer is found. —garykmcd
- Taglines
- They call me Mister Tibbs
- Genres
- Certificate
- Approved
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaSidney Poitier insisted that the movie be filmed in the North because of an incident in which he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by Ku Klux Klansmen during a visit to Mississippi. That's why Sparta, IL, was chosen for location filming. Nevertheless, the filmmakers and actors did venture briefly into Tennessee for the outdoor scenes at the cotton plantation, because there was no similar cotton plantation in Illinois that could be used. Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow during production in Tennessee. He did receive threats from local racist thugs, so the shoot was cut short and production returned to Illinois.
- GoofsThe police chase Harvey Oberst through the yellow leaves of an Autumn forest, clearly indicating it is not the middle of summer, as claimed in the movie.
- Quotes
Gillespie: "Virgil"? That's a funny name for a n***er boy to come from Philadelphia. What do they call you up there?
Virgil Tibbs: They call me MISTER TIBBS!
- Crazy creditsNo uppercase ("capital") letters are used in the opening and closing credits, including the film's title, cast and characters, crew and job titles, and company credits.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Film Review: Film Review (1967)
- SoundtracksIn the Heat of the Night
Music by Quincy Jones (uncredited)
Lyrics by Alan Bergman (uncredited) and Marilyn Bergman (uncredited)
Sung by Ray Charles
Top review
Genuinely Shocking but no Surprise...
Outstanding performances from Poitier & Steiger in a film that's genuinely shocking once you consider the prejudice and evil it contains, even more so when you witness those same traits in society over 50 years later. Will we ever learn!
helpful•195
- Xstal
- Jun 29, 2020
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $27,669
- Runtime
- 1h 50min
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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By what name was In the Heat of the Night (1967) officially released in India in English?
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