IMDb > In the Heat of the Night (1967)
In the Heat of the Night
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In the Heat of the Night (1967) More at IMDbPro »

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In the Heat of the Night (1967) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   20,914 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)
John Ball (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for In the Heat of the Night on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 October 1967 (Japan) more
Genre:
Tagline:
They got a murder on their hands . . . they don't know what to do with it. more
Plot:
An African American detective is asked to investigate a murder in a racist southern town. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won 5 Oscars. Another 17 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(21 articles)
1999: A Look Back
 (From JoBlo. 23 November 2009, 6:36 AM, PST)

Bad Boys Grow Up
 (From IFC. 17 November 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)

User Comments:
A True Landmark Film more (120 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sidney Poitier ... Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger ... Gillespie
Warren Oates ... Sam Wood
Lee Grant ... Mrs. Colbert
Larry Gates ... Endicott
James Patterson ... Mr. Purdy
William Schallert ... Mayor Schubert
Beah Richards ... Mama Caleba
Peter Whitney ... Courtney
Kermit Murdock ... Henderson
Larry D. Mann ... Watkins
Matt Clark ... Packy
Arthur Malet ... Ulam
Fred Stewart ... Dr. Stuart
Quentin Dean ... Delores
more
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Dans la chaleur de la nuit (Belgium: French title) (Canada: French title) (France) (dubbed version) [fr]
In der Hitze der Nacht (Austria) (East Germany) (West Germany) [de]
Al calor de la noche (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
En el calor de la noche (Spain) [es]
En la calor de la nit (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Forró éjszakában (Hungary) [hu]
Gecenin sicaginda (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
I nattens hede (Denmark) [da]
I nattens hetta (Sweden) [sv]
Istoria enos eglimatos (Greece) [el]
La calda notte dell'ispettore Tibbs (Italy) [it]
No Calor da Noite (Brazil) [pt]
W upalna noc (Poland) [pl]
Yön kuumuudessa (Finland) [fi]
more
Runtime:
109 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Sound)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The scene that took place at the sheriff's house featured dialog that came out of improvisations between Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. more
Goofs:
Continuity: During the shot where Sam Wood first approaches the train depot, he casts a very long shadow reaching behind him all the way up the building wall as if lighting is directly in front of him. In the next shot when he is passing the door and sees Virgil, the shadow has greatly shrunk down as if the lighting is directly overhead. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Ofcr. Sam Wood: Where you keeping the pie tonight?
Ralph Henshaw, diner counterman: I ate the last piece just before you came in.
more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Bowlegged Polly more

FAQ

How was the final scene shot?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
How did the osmundia branch figure into the killing?
more
18 out of 23 people found the following comment useful.
A True Landmark Film, 22 February 2006
10/10
Author: waynec50 from United States

1967 was a turbulent year in the U S. Civil rights marches and demonstrations, anti-war rallies, the summer of love,psychedelic music and backlash against the previously noted, 1967 had it all. And this great movie came out, about a small Mississippi town embroiled in a steaming hot summer and a sizzling murder case. The movie diverges from the book on many aspects, mostly for the better. This is a serious look at a nation and a community in turmoil. The acting is first rate, from Sidney Poitier (one of the greatest American actors of this generation, regardless of race), Rod Steiger, Lee Grant, Warren Oates and the whole passel of townsfolk. The plot has been well outlined in previous posts, so I won't belabor it. My favorite scene is when Virgil examines the deceased, looking for clues in discoloration, type of wound, etc., while the sheriff looks on with his jaw practically on the floor in amazement. You can plainly see that he wanted to pin the crime on a hitch-hiker or one of the town's less desirable inhabitants. While some may see the film as preachy or presenting Virgil as a superior to the hicks, seen in the context of its time, it really tells a lot about race relations of the time. The movie is well filmed with lots of atmospheric detail of the time and region (even though it was filmed in Illinois, some areas of Illinois and Indiana were very Southern in their feel and outlook). Great acting, a good mystery, fine cinematography and an important theme make this a must-see movie. 10 stars.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Race Tension Misdirection Vader999
'Fooooul owl on the prowl!' + other funny scenes... firebringer700
'Ya dig?' / 'I don't neeed it' rogueforte
In the Heat Of The Night ross-noble
Courtney and his brother ranier
'I was visiting my mother.' (serious flaw?) Mononoke-hime
more

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