In the Heat of the Night

In the Heat of the Night (1967) is a dramatic mystery set in a fictional racist small town in Mississippi. It portrays an unlikely working relationship between a bigoted white police chief and a black out of town deputy as they strive to solve a murder. The movie is based on a novel by the same name written by John Ball in 1965. It was directed by Norman Jewison and produced by Walter Mirisch. In the Heat of the Night won five academy awards in 1967, including that of Best Picture. The main deputy, Virgil Tibbs, was played by Sidney Poitier, and the prejudiced police chief, Bill Gillespie, was played by Rod Steiger. Rod Steiger won the academy award for Best Actor for his role in the movie. The film addresses the tensions apparent in the deep South head on, which made it stand out from other movies of its time. There is a frank exposure of the prevalent racism and an honest depiction of violent turmoil and emotion. In the Heat of the Night had two sequels. One of them was They Call Me Mister Tibbs, released in 1970. The Organization came out in 1971. A series based on In the Heat of the Night's premise was produced in 1988. It remains a popularly viewed depiction of American history.