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still In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)

In the Heat of the Night

Norman Jewison / US, 1967 / 110 min.

Norman Jewison’s indictment of racism in America’s deep south won five Oscars. Sidney Poitier plays a black cop suspected of murder; the colour of his skin says he’s guilty. Cooperation with the local authorities to unravel the murder is terrible and the majority of the population prove racist.

poster In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)

A man is murdered in a sleepy town in the deep south. Soon a black stranger Virgil Tibbs (Poitier) who is waiting at the station for a train becomes the prime suspect. After his arrest things don’t prove as clear cut: Tibbs is a policeman and a very good detective – he offers to help investigate to prove his innocence. However, sheriff Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) has already decided who the guilty party is.

In the Heat of the Night won five Oscars, including best film and best actor (Steiger). Jewison’s righteous critique of racism unfortunately still proves current today, all the more reason to create a 4K restoration of this classic that features music by Quincy Jones.

Screening of the 4K restoration

Details

This movie contains scenes of violencePersons under 6 years must be accompanied by an adult

Director

Norman Jewison

Production year

1967

Country

US

Original title

In the Heat of the Night

Length

110 min.

Language

English

Subtitles

NLD

Format

DCP

Part of

Sidney Poitier & Denzel Washington

Sidney Poitier was Denzel Washington’s shining example. The actors were good friends, but never played in a film together. This summer, Eye brings them together on the big screen for the first time by showing the best of their films.

Learn more
still In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)
still In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)
still In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)
still In the Heat of the Night (Norman Jewison, US 1967)

‘The slap heard around the world’

For our online Magazine, The Black Archives’ Isabelle Britto placed ‘the slap heard around the world’ from In the Heat of the Night in a historical context. Why did this slap make such an impression in 1967, and what made Sidney Poitier such a special actor?

Read more
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