In the Heat of the Night

1h 49min

Crime

Drama

Mystery

Thriller

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.

Production Companies

United Artists

The Mirisch Company

Cast

Sidney Poitier

Sidney Poitier

Virgil Tibbs
Rod Steiger

Rod Steiger

Police Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren Oates

Warren Oates

Deputy Sam Wood
Peter Whitney

Peter Whitney

Deputy Courtney
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Mrs. Leslie Colbert
William Schallert

William Schallert

Mayor Schubert
Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson

Harvey Oberst
Larry Gates

Larry Gates

Eric Endicott
Quentin Dean

Quentin Dean

Delores Purdy
Beah Richards

Beah Richards

Mama Caleba
Fred Stewart

Fred Stewart

Dr. Stuart
Eldon Quick

Eldon Quick

Charles Hawthorne
Jester Hairston

Jester Hairston

Endicott's Butler
Phil Adams

Phil Adams

1st Tough
Nikita Knatz

Nikita Knatz

2nd Tough
Jack Teter

Jack Teter

Philip Colbert (uncredited)
Alan Oppenheimer

Alan Oppenheimer

Ted Appleton (uncredited)
Clegg Hoyt

Clegg Hoyt

Deputy (uncredited)
Buzz Barton

Buzz Barton

Conductor (uncredited)

Release date

2nd Aug 1967

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English