A black Philadelphia detective becomes involved in a murder case in a small, bigoted southern town, much to the chagrin of the local, redneck police chief. An excellent production, adapted by Stirling Silliphant from John Ball's novel. Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Director. Academy Awards: 5, including Best Picture, Best Actor--Rod Steiger, Best (Adapted) Screenplay.
While on a trip back home in Mississippi, detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested for the murder of a prominent industrialist. His only crimes: being out late at night and being black. After some prodding by his boss, Tibbs joins forces with the bigoted town sheriff to catch the real killer.
Academy Award for Best Sound to the Goldwyn Sound Department.
DVD Features:
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Mono - English, Spanish, French
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Subtitles - English, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentaries - Norman Jewison - Director; Lee Grant, Rod Steiger - Stars; Haskell Wexler - Cinematographer
Documentaries - 1. "Turning Up the Heat: Movie Making in the Turbulent 60s"
2. "Quincy Jones: In the Heat of the Music"
Featurettes - "The Slap Heard Around the World"
Trailers - 1. Theatrical Trailer
2. TV Spots
Cinematographer
Haskell Wexler: Cinematographer/Director/Producer/Screenwriter
Art Director
Paul Groesse: Art Director
Review 1:
"...At the height of the civil rights era, it was volcanic..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.33 01/11/2002
Review 2:
"[T]his Oscar-anointed drama hinges on proto-CSI detective Virgil Tibbs..."
Source: Premiere
p.68 04/01/2004
Review 3:
5 stars out of 5 -- "Daringly right-on for its time, it's a powerful drama and one of Poitier's best."
Source: Ultimate DVD
p.88 04/01/2008