Day 30 - In the Heat of the Night (US)

"Mr. Colbert, a wealthy man from Chicago who was planning to build a factory in Sparta, Mississippi, is found murdered. White police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) comes under pressure to quickly find his killer. African-American northerner Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), passing through town, is picked up at the train station between trains with a substantial amount of cash in his wallet. Gillespie, prejudiced against blacks, jumps to the conclusion that he has his culprit but is embarrassed to learn that Tibbs is an experienced Philadelphia homicide detective who is simply passing through town after visiting his mother. After the racist treatment that he receives, Tibbs wants nothing more than to leave as quickly as possible, but his own chief, after questioning whether Tibbs himself is prejudiced, has him stay and help. Leslie Colbert (Lee Grant), the victim's widow, already frustrated by the ineptitude of the local police, is impressed by Tibbs's expertise when he clears another wrongly accused suspect whom Gillespie has arrested on circumstantial evidence. She threatens to stop construction on the much needed factory unless Tibbs leads the investigation. Unwilling to accept help, but under orders from the town's mayor, Gillespie talks a reluctant Tibbs into working on the case."

A wonderful film from 1967 both Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger are really good actors. They keep this film interesting and compel the viewer to like the too. There is great character development especially with Rod Steiger's character. The film depicts a time in which most people try to ignore it but they can never hide from history. This film also features one of the most popular lines in movie history "They call me Mister Tibbs!" a powerful line delivered by Sidney Poitier

2.9/5


Cast

Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs (also starred in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner)

Rod Steiger as Chief Bill Gillespie (also starred in The Hurricane, American Gothic)