Movie Description

In the Heat of the Night is a 1967 mystery drama directed by Norman Jewison and based on John Ball’s 1965 novel. Set in a racially charged small town in Mississippi, the film stars Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs, a black detective from Philadelphia who gets involved in a murder investigation while passing through town. Rod Steiger co-stars as the town's prejudiced yet pragmatic police chief, Gillespie. Forced to work together, they navigate racial tensions and mutual mistrust in their quest for justice. The film is renowned for its exploration of race relations of the era. It was critically acclaimed and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Poitier's iconic line "They call me Mister Tibbs!" has since become a classic moment in film history.