This film
← Back to discoveries
Film / 1967
In the Heat of the Night
Directed by
Norman Jewison
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.
Where to watch?
Loading viewing options…
In the same saga
Virgil Tibbs Trilogy
In release order
Cast
Sidney PoitierVirgil Tibbs
Rod SteigerPolice Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren OatesDeputy Sam Wood
Peter WhitneyDeputy Courtney
Lee GrantMrs. Leslie Colbert
Anthony JamesRalph
William SchallertMayor Schubert
Scott WilsonHarvey Oberst
Larry GatesEric Endicott
James PattersonMr. Purdy
Quentin DeanDelores Purdy
Kermit MurdockHenderson
See more cast
Larry D. MannWatkins
Matt ClarkPacky
Beah RichardsMama Caleba
Arthur MaletUlam
Fred StewartDr. Stuart
Timothy ScottShagbag
William WatsonMcNeil
Eldon QuickCharles Hawthorne
Jester HairstonEndicott's Butler
Stuart NisbetShuie
Khalil BezaleelJess
Peter MastersonFryer
Phil Adams1st Tough
Nikita Knatz2nd Tough
Sam ReeseClerk
Jack TeterPhilip Colbert (uncredited)
Alan OppenheimerTed Appleton (uncredited)
Clegg HoytDeputy (uncredited)
Buzz BartonConductor (uncredited)
More to discover
Mystic River
2003 · Thriller · Drama
The Shawshank Redemption
1994 · Drama · Crime
The Godfather
1972 · Drama · Crime
The Godfather Part II
1974 · Drama · Crime
The Green Mile
1999 · Fantasy · Drama
The Shadow's Edge
2025 · Action · Crime