User Reviews

While a sleepy Mississippi town tries its best to ignore the turning racial tides elsewhere in the nation, it’s shocked by the early-morning murder of an important businessman. A visiting Philadelphia police detective is initially suspected, primarily for being a black stranger with a fat wallet, then grudgingly enlisted to help solve the crime. In turning over clues, he also uncovers the flabby underbelly of an ugly southern society that sorely needs a kick in the pants. Many such films from the heart of the civil rights era tend to be narrow and stilted; easy morality plays with limited desire to directly confront the hard truths. This one’s an exception: there’s a tangible sense of important, uncomfortable change churning right on the surface. A tribe of middle-aged white guys, suddenly forced to challenge their lifelong prejudice. A proud, big city black man who struggles to mask his indignance in the face of slack-jawed (and loose-lipped) yokels. Both slip in the wrong direction at times, giving way to knee-jerks and outbursts, but growth often comes hard and real change is never a straight line. Though well-written, with a multitude of complex characters and a crafty mystery at the core of it all, In the Heat of the Night is really all about the performances. Key among those are the dual leads, Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, who keenly embody the roiling emotions of their parts. Poitier’s barely-contained rage is intense and understandable; a refined man doing his best to maintain his composure in an impossible situation. By contrast, Steiger’s dumpy police chief fumbles and falters his way through an awakening, grumpy and bigoted but gradually willing to see the light. Their tense arrangement never quite becomes a friendship, but it does become mutually respectful, and in the end that might be even more meaningful. An excellent, timely effort that had no qualms over pushing the limits of a very difficult, dangerous social atmosphere.

Sidney Poitier is cool. This is a well put together mystery as well. It gets a little messy weaving in some the side plots but has a satisfying resolution. It is shocking when you realize that Steiger and not Poitier was nominated and also won for best actor, not to take away from his performance as he was excellent as well, it's just more of a supporting role to me.

It delivers its message while telling a more than a competent story that deals with racial issues that are still somewhat relevant, considering that the film is 55 years old. It is an angry film that speaks volumes.

This is very much a film of its time, or so I'd like to say, although it would be naive of me to claim that racism has been utterly removed from the world, or indeed the setting of this film - southern USA. It does well at highlighting the prejudice African Americans faced, regardless of their professional occupations or not. Its a sobering watch in parts - the way the local police chief laughs off some of what the African American (Virgil Tibbs) says, ignoring his clearly decent background makes for depressing viewing certainly. However, there is also prejudice shown towards others in this film, mainly that of womenn. I'd say it does well at highlighting such social issues and is a relatively engrossing watch. I would recommend this film, yes.

Many state "Star Wars"as the first revolutionary modern film to transform early 20th century filmmaking into what it is today, but one should take a good hard look into this stunning crime-drama that predates the famous sci-fi flick by 10 years. Norman Jewison's marvelous direction and camera work show a beautiful, ugly urban landscape in the American South where an unpredictable mystery plot is taking place; spearheaded by a one-two knockout punch from both Sydney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Poitier in particular, has a way of using body language more so than words. The result is a performance that transcends off the camera, off the screen, and onto your living room floor (or wherever you're watching the film). He is that good. Steiger works as a great contrast to the sophisticated Poitier by making us believe he's a rough caloot who is initially prejudice, but can learn to appreciate others when given the chance/exposure.

While the movie makes a good point, it does continuously beat you over the head with it. So much so that it interferes with the same plot. Still, I have to give it credit for style and the performances of the lead actors. If you like plot-driven movies, this is really not for you.

Steiger does a great job opposite of Poitier but it's Poitier who really shines in this film. It's a great reflection of the times and shows just how quickly respect can grow if you put aside your differences. Truly great movie, I really enjoyed it.

Sidney Poitier is one of top 10 performances, in the shoes of a detective who shall to solve an intolerance crime, far from home, in an environment full of prejudices. The score of Quince Jones, and the main song of Ray Charles are full delight.

a **** and revealing showdown iterated in a night.. In The Heat Of Night 4 And A Half Out Of 5 In The Heat Of Night is a rare cinematic art that redefines the genre on its own terms and grasps for something that seemed beyond impossible to achieve and that is its maturity on conveying a message. The scrutiny in here is thought out with each individual character's perspective that makes not only its characters three dimensional but also a more mature and stronger plot that isn't here to merely deliver a nail-biting thriller drama but an all direction view of the black and white aspects of the truth. It may be short on technical aspects like background score, production and art design, but is utterly adequate on editing and cinematography. The adaptive screenplay by Sterling Silliphant is witty, strong, gripping and aware of the characteristics of the characters well enough to keep the audience engaged throughout the course of it and offer them thought-provoking homework, too along with that. Norman Jewison; the director, is in his A game as his pitch on the emotions and the stakes creates the anticipated impact and draws out the best outcomes from the screen. Sidney Poitier is convincing as a protagonist but the real game changer in here is Rod Steiger in his parallel role steals the show with his stellar performance. In The Heat Of Night is a **** and revealing showdown iterated in a night whose discectomy is just pleasingly ingenious to encounter