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.
In the Heat of the Night
“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.
Director
Norman Jewison
Budget
2.0M
Revenue
27.4M
Status
Released
Production
United Artists, The Mirisch Company
Cast
Sidney Poitier
Virgil Tibbs
Rod Steiger
Police Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren Oates
Deputy Sam Wood
Peter Whitney
Deputy Courtney
Lee Grant
Mrs. Leslie Colbert
Anthony James
Ralph
William Schallert
Mayor Schubert
Scott Wilson
Harvey Oberst
Larry Gates
Eric Endicott
James Patterson
Mr. Purdy
Quentin Dean
Delores Purdy
Kermit Murdock
Henderson
Larry D. Mann
Watkins
Matt Clark
Packy
Beah Richards
Mama Caleba
Arthur Malet
Ulam
Fred Stewart
Dr. Stuart
Timothy Scott
Shagbag
William Watson
McNeil
Eldon Quick
Charles Hawthorne
Jester Hairston
Endicott's Butler
Stuart Nisbet
Shuie
Khalil Bezaleel
Jess
Peter Masterson
Fryer
Phil Adams
1st Tough
Nikita Knatz
2nd Tough
Sam Reese
Clerk
Jack Teter
Philip Colbert (uncredited)
Alan Oppenheimer
Ted Appleton (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt
Deputy (uncredited)
Buzz Barton
Conductor (uncredited)
Video Gallery
Rod Steiger winning an Oscar® for Best Actor
In the Heat of the Night (1967) Discussion with Lee Grant, Walter Mirisch and Norman Jewison
