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In the Heat of the Night ()

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A black Philadelphia police detective is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case.
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Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 5 Oscars. Another 18 wins & 16 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

172 photos | 3 videos

Cast verified as complete

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Det. Virgil Tibbs
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Chief Bill Gillespie
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Officer Sam Wood
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Mrs. Colbert
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Eric Endicott
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Mr. Purdy
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Mayor Schubert
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Mama Caleba
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Courtney
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Henderson
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Watkins
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Packy Harrison
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Ulam
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Dr. Stuart
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Delores Purdy
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Harvey Oberst
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Shagbag
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McNeil (as William C. Watson)
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Charles Hawthorne
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Shuie
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Jess
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Fryer
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Endicott's Butler
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1st Tough
Nikita Knatz ...
2nd Tough
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Clerk
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Ralph
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Buzz Barton ...
Conductor (uncredited)
Phil Garris ...
Engineer (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt ...
Deputy (uncredited)
Warren Kenner ...
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Michael LeGlaire ...
City Councilman (uncredited)
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Ted Appleton (uncredited)
David Stinehart ...
Baggage Master (uncredited)
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Philip Colbert - Murder Victim (uncredited)
Jazan Winona Wallace ...
Viola (uncredited)

Directed by

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Norman Jewison

Written by

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Stirling Silliphant ... (screenplay)
 
John Ball ... (based on a novel by)

Produced by

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Walter Mirisch ... producer

Music by

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Quincy Jones

Cinematography by

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Haskell Wexler ... director of photography

Editing by

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Hal Ashby ... film editor

Editorial Department

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Byron 'Buzz' Brandt ... assistant film editor (as Byron Brandt)
Sheri Eisenberg ... theatrical mastering colorist (uncredited)

Casting By

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Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by

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Paul Groesse

Set Decoration by

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Robert Priestley

Makeup Department

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Del Armstrong ... makeup

Production Management

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Jim Henderling ... production manager (as James E. Henderling)
Howard Joslin ... unit production manager (as J. Howard Joslin)
Allen K. Wood ... production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Newt Arnold ... second assistant director (as Newton Arnold)
Terry Morse Jr. ... first assistant director

Art Department

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Stephen R. Ferry ... property
Ray Aragon ... storyboard artist (uncredited)
Joseph Musso ... production illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Walter Goss ... sound
Clem Portman ... rerecordist
James Richard ... sound editor
Kevin F. Cleary ... sound (uncredited)
Charles Cooper ... sound (uncredited)

Stunts

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Phil Adams ... stunts (uncredited)
John Moio ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Ralph Gerling ... camera operator (uncredited)
Larry Gianneschi III ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Ross A. Maehl ... gaffer (uncredited)
Morris Rosen ... key grip (uncredited)
Don Stott ... gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Alan Levine ... costumer: men

Music Department

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Alan Bergman ... song lyrics
Marilyn Bergman ... lyrics by
Richard Carruth ... music editor
Ray Brown ... musician: bass (uncredited)
Glen Campbell ... musician: banjo (uncredited)
Don Elliott ... performer: vocal percussion (uncredited)
Quincy Jones ... conductor (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited) / score arranger (uncredited)
Carol Kaye ... musician: electric bass (uncredited)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Mike Post ... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Billy Preston ... musician: organ (uncredited)
Bobby Scott ... musician: tack piano (uncredited)
Toots Thielemans ... musician: harmonica (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Meta Rebner ... script supervisor

Additional Crew

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Hal Ashby ... assistant to the producer
Murray Naidich ... titles
Wayne Fitzgerald ... title designer (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Detective Virgil Tibbs is caught up in the racial tension of the US South when he is arrested after the murder of a prominent businessman. Tibbs was simply waiting for his next train at the station in Sparta, Mississippi and the confusion is soon resolved but when local police chief Gillespie learns that Tibbs is the Philadelphia PD's number one homicide expert, he reluctantly asks for his assistance. The murdered man, Mr. Colbert, had come to Sparta from the North to build a new factory and his wife and business associates immediately point the finger at Endicott, the most powerful man in the county and the one who had the most to lose if a major new employer comes to the area. Tibbs' life is clearly in danger but he perseveres in a highly charged and racially explosive environment until the killer is found. Written by garykmcd

Plot Keywords
Taglines They call me Mister Tibbs See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Dans la chaleur de la nuit (France)
  • In der Hitze der Nacht (Germany)
  • En la calor de la nit (Spain, Catalan title)
  • En el calor de la noche (Spain)
  • У врелини ноћи (Serbia)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 110 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $2,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia Sidney Poitier insisted that the movie be filmed in the North because of an incident in which he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by Ku Klux Klansmen during a visit to Mississippi. That's why Sparta, IL, was chosen for location filming. Nevertheless, the filmmakers and actors did venture briefly into Tennessee for the outdoor scenes at the cotton plantation, because there was no similar cotton plantation in Illinois that could be used. Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow during production in Tennessee. He did receive threats from local racist thugs, so the shoot was cut short and production returned to Illinois. See more »
Goofs The police chase Harvey Oberst through the yellow leaves of an autumn forest, clearly indicating that it is not the middle of summer, as claimed in the movie. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Film Review (1967). See more »
Soundtracks In the Heat of the Night See more »
Crazy Credits No uppercase ("capital") letters are used in the opening and closing credits, including the film's title, cast and characters, crew and job titles, and company credits. See more »
Quotes Gillespie: Virgil? That's a funny name for a n***er boy that comes from Philadelphia. What do they call you up there?
Virgil Tibbs: They call me MISTER TIBBS!
See more »
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