In the Heat of the Night poster
Director Norman Jewison
Screenplay Stirling Silliphant

In the Heat of the Night

Tagline: They got a murder on their hands. They don’t know what to do with it.

Release Date: 1967-08-02

Duration: 109 minutes

Synopsis

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.

Casting

  • Sidney Poitier
    Virgil Tibbs
  • William Schallert
    Mayor Schubert
  • Alan Oppenheimer
    Ted Appleton (uncredited)
  • Rod Steiger
    Police Chief Bill Gillespie
  • Warren Oates
    Deputy Sam Wood
  • Anthony James
    Ralph
  • Scott Wilson
    Harvey Oberst
  • Matt Clark
    Packy
  • Lee Grant
    Mrs. Leslie Colbert
  • Peter Whitney
    Deputy Courtney