In the Heat of the Night is the perfect film for returning to this blog. Not only did it star Sidney Poitier (incredibly talented and hardworking) but the story itself was an intriguing examination of character and motivations. The basic plot is this: a wealthy white man is found dead on the street in small town Sparta, Mississippi; Virgil Tibbs (Poitier) who is accused of the crime turns out to be a homicide detective from Philadelphia; and once the detective is found innocent (about 5 minutes after being accused), he becomes involved in solving the case, at first against his will (his boss tells him to help out).
The race relations complicate the story, as throughout the investigation white men discredit Tibbs, including the chief of police in Sparta, and some physically threaten Tibbs. It's an ugly but true depiction of race relations in the late 1960s in America, and what struck me was how poised and educated Tibbs is portrayed in comparison to the white men. It's not surprising, in ways, that the white men threaten Tibbs because they themselves feel threatened by this educated black man. What seemed to anger them the most is how Tibbs remains cool under the pressure, and once Tibbs becomes dedicated to the case, Tibbs' unrelenting pursuit of the truth further angers these men. Tibbs is the kind of police officer you want on your force; he's smart and he wants justice to be served. It's not difficult to see him as a hero in this film at times.
Tibbs with Police Chief Gillespie
While the race relations and the honor of Tibbs are interesting, what I found even more interesting was the developing relationship between the two main characters, Tibbs and Police Chief Gillespie (Rod Steiger). They are an unlikely pair; Tibbs is the epitome of sophistication and Gillespie is a sweaty mess. Yet the two men complement each other. At first, Gillespie's frequent errors and quickness to solve the case by finding just any suspect make him a despicable character. As the film progresses, though, we begin to see how he has some redeeming qualities, especially in how he defends Tibbs to other white men in Sparta. Gillespie's initial disrespect for Tibbs is appalling, but Tibbs is just as disrespectful towards Gillespie, albeit in a more subtle manner. In the end, it seems that the men have more in common than they (and we) realized.
In the Heat of the Night is definitely worth watching. Considering when the movie was released, and even now what race relations are in the United States, the film tells an interesting mystery while also commenting on race. This is one that even deserves a rewatch to examine and analyze how the director used shots and sound to further develop the characters and their stories.
