{"id":96899,"date":"2024-05-22T14:09:37","date_gmt":"2024-05-22T21:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=96899"},"modified":"2024-05-22T20:12:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T03:12:03","slug":"in-the-heat-of-the-night-1967","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=96899","title":{"rendered":"In the Heat of the Night (1967)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;They call me <em>Mister<\/em> Tibbs!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster-196x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-96904\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster-196x300.png 196w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster-176x270.png 176w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poster.png 616w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAfter a businessman is murdered in the Deep South, a visiting black homicide detective (Sidney Poitier) is recruited by the town&#8217;s bigoted white police chief (Rod Steiger) to help solve the case.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Deep South<\/li>\n<li>Detectives and Private Eyes<\/li>\n<li>Lee Grant Films<\/li>\n<li>Murder Mystery<\/li>\n<li>Norman Jewison Films<\/li>\n<li>Police<\/li>\n<li>Race Relations and Racism<\/li>\n<li>Rod Steiger Films<\/li>\n<li>Sidney Poitier Films<\/li>\n<li>Warren Oates Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nNorman Jewison&#8217;s Oscar-winning race-relations drama &#8212; based on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/In_the_Heat_of_the_Night_(novel)\">John Ball&#8217;s 1965 novel of the same name<\/a> &#8212; isn&#8217;t reviewed in Peary&#8217;s <em>GFTFF<\/em>, but he discusses it briefly in <em>Alternate Oscars<\/em>, where he notes that &#8220;the Academy felt proud and in tune with changing America when it gave its Best Picture award to&#8221; this film, a movie &#8220;in which Sidney Poitier&#8217;s character <em>works<\/em> with a white man instead of one in which his character marries a white woman&#8221; (as was the case in the same year&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=30320\"><em>Guess Who&#8217;s Coming to Dinner<\/em><\/a>). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-1024x549.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-1024x549.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Eat.png 1290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>He refers to <em>In the Heat of the Night<\/em> as a &#8220;muddled&#8221; mystery (I disagree), noting that while both Poitier films &#8220;were noncontroversial &#8216;controversial&#8217; films,&#8221; &#8220;at least Jewison&#8217;s film had some bite to it, provided by Poitier as a surly cop from Philadelphia and Rod Steiger as the redneck sheriff with whom he forms an uneasy alliance&#8221; &#8212; though he ultimately doesn&#8217;t think it stands up against other formidable films released that year, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4421\"><em>Bonnie and Clyde<\/em><\/a>, which he names Best Picture of the Year instead. <\/p>\n<p>Regarding Steiger&#8217;s Oscar-winning performance, Peary writes: &#8220;It&#8217;s hard to fathom today, but for a brief time in the mid-sixties, beginning with an uncharacteristically restrained performance in <a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=44133\"><em>The Pawnbroker<\/em><\/a>, Rod Steiger was considered by many to be America&#8217;s foremost movie actor.&#8221; He adds, &#8220;The egotistical actor himself believed this, and, taking charge of his career, promptly drove it into the ground, giving himself a heart attack in the process.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-1024x560.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Steiger.png 1292w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Touch\u00e9, Peary! In trying to research this claim, the only &#8220;evidence&#8221; I could find was this quote by Steiger on IMDb. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;It sounds pompous but it&#8217;s the nearest thing I can do to being God. I&#8217;m trying to create human beings and so does He.&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>At any rate, Peary argues that while &#8220;Steiger was well cast and forceful as usual,&#8221; many &#8220;at the time failed to notice&#8221; that &#8220;he used a combination of (undeniable) talent and bluster to cover up a lazy, shallow portrayal of a potentially fascinating character,&#8221; and laments what could have been &#8220;if he&#8217;d only stopped shouting and calmed down for a moment.&#8221; I respectfully disagree with Peary&#8217;s take on Steiger&#8217;s performance, which to me seems spot-on &#8212; after all, his character IS lazy and shallow, and probably not all that fascinating. Chief Gillespie is part and parcel of a small, deeply racist town where within ten minutes of the film, Poitier&#8217;s character is arrested for being black: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-1024x563.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"352\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96906\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-1024x563.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black-491x270.png 491w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arrested-for-Being-Black.png 1302w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and drawn against his will into a murder mystery being handled with spectacular incompetence by Steiger and his accomplice, Warren Oates&#8217; Officer Sam Wood. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-768x417.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Oates.png 1298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Their incompetence doesn&#8217;t abate, and it&#8217;s crystal clear that they <em>need<\/em> Poitier in order to do their job. <\/p>\n<p><em>In the Heat of the Night<\/em> remains a challenging film to watch precisely because of how many truths it lays out for us to witness: there is simply no denying the role played by race and racism in every move made throughout the screenplay. In the film&#8217;s most satisfying sequence &#8212; indeed, it ranks among the top moments in cinematic history &#8212; Poitier delivers an unhesitant slap to a white cotton plantation owner (Larry Gates) who he believes to be a prime suspect. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-1024x548.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-1024x548.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP-504x270.png 504w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-SLAP.png 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This sustains us for a while, though we worry even more for Poitier as he instantly becomes the target of lethal mobs: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-1024x549.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"343\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96909\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-1024x549.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-768x412.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass-503x270.png 503w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Badass.png 1294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and sticks around simply to see justice of one kind or another playing out. Film fanatics will definitely want to check this one out &#8212; though whether you can stomach watching it more than once will be up to you. (I saved re-watching it until near the end of this film review project, precisely because I accurately remembered how rough it was.)  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-1024x562.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"351\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96915\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-1024x562.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-768x422.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier-492x270.png 492w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Poitier.png 1286w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Rod Steiger as Chief Bill Gillespie<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-1024x552.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"345\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-1024x552.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist-501x270.png 501w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Arms-on-Waist.png 1298w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Fine supporting performances<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-1024x560.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-1024x560.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-768x420.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant-493x270.png 493w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-of-the-Night-Grant.png 1283w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Haskell Wexler\u2019s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"346\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96910\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography-499x270.png 499w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cinematography.png 1285w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of location shooting<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-1024x557.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"348\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-1024x557.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-128x70.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-768x418.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town-496x270.png 496w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Town.png 1294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-1024x555.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"347\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-96916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-1024x555.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-300x163.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-128x69.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton-498x270.png 498w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/In-the-Heat-Cotton.png 1284w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Quincy Jones&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a still-powerful race-related drama. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0061811\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17602\/in-the-heat-of-the-night#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/trailersfromhell.com\/in-the-heat-of-the-night-4k\/\">Trailers From Hell Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;They call me Mister Tibbs!&#8221; Synopsis: After a businessman is murdered in the Deep South, a visiting black homicide detective (Sidney Poitier) is recruited by the town&#8217;s bigoted white police chief (Rod Steiger) to help solve the case. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Deep South Detectives and Private Eyes Lee Grant Films Murder Mystery Norman Jewison Films Police Race Relations and Racism Rod Steiger Films Sidney Poitier Films Warren Oates Films Review: Norman Jewison&#8217;s Oscar-winning race-relations drama &#8212; based on&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=96899\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-96899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 4.9.9 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&quot;They call me Mister Tibbs!&quot; Synopsis: After a businessman is murdered in the Deep South, a visiting black homicide detective (Sidney Poitier) is recruited by the town&#039;s bigoted white police chief (Rod Steiger) to help solve the case. 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