In the Heat of the Night

In the Heat of the Night

109 mins | Drama, Crime, Thriller, Mystery | Aug. 2, 1967

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

109 mins | Drama, Crime, Thriller, Mystery | Aug. 2, 1967

In the Heat of the Night
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.
IMDb rating 7.9
Producers United Artists, The Mirisch Corporation
Original title In the Heat of the Night
Directors Terry Morse Jr., Newt Arnold, Norman Jewison, Meta Rebner
Writers John Ball, Stirling Silliphant

Cast

Sidney Poitier

as Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger

as Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Warren Oates

as Deputy Sam Wood

Peter Whitney

as Deputy Courtney

Lee Grant

as Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Anthony James

as Ralph

William Schallert

as Mayor Schubert

Scott Wilson

as Harvey Oberst

Larry Gates

as Eric Endicott

James Patterson

as Mr. Purdy

Quentin Dean

as Delores Purdy

Kermit Murdock

as Henderson

Larry D. Mann

as Watkins

Matt Clark

as Packy

Beah Richards

as Mama Caleba

Arthur Malet

as Ulam

Fred Stewart

as Dr. Stuart

Timothy Scott

as Shagbag

William Watson

as McNeil

Eldon Quick

as Charles Hawthorne

Jester Hairston

as Endicott's Butler

Stuart Nisbet

as Shuie

Khalil Bezaleel

as Jess

Peter Masterson

as Fryer

Phil Adams

as 1st Tough

Nikita Knatz

as 2nd Tough

Sam Reese

as Clerk

Alan Oppenheimer

as Ted Appleton (uncredited)

Clegg Hoyt

as Deputy (uncredited)

Buzz Barton

as Conductor (uncredited)