by Anthony O'Connor
Worth: Discs: 2, The Film: 4/5, The Extras: 3.5/5, Overall: 7.5/10
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant
Intro:
… for fans of classic cinema or those in the mood to watch a couple of old school actors absolutely scorching up the screen.
The Film:
It’s funny how some films stick around in the cultural zeitgeist long after their release and others become forgotten classics or films that are rarely talked about. Case in point, when was the last time you talked about, or even thought about, In the Heat of the Night?
The 1967 classic starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger feels almost like a template for the racially charged movies and TV shows that followed in its wake. It also had a huge impact at the time of its release, winning five Oscars including Best Picture and going on to spawn a TV show of the same name. Said television version itself became a big hit and lasted for 142 (!) episodes and four TV movies. Hell, Japanese director Akira Kurosawa rates it as one of his favourite films. Sidney Poitier’s character even got two sequel movies of varying quality (They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971)) yet it’s rarely talked about with the same reverence applied to its contemporaries. Happily, we’ve now got a gorgeous new 4K release, which should help to address this omission.
So, for the uninitiated: In the Heat of the Night is the story of a murder of a wealthy industrialist in the small town of Sparta, Mississippi. Local and very racist copper, Sam Woods (Warren Oates) hoons around town, picking up the first black man he can see, Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier) and brings him back to the station to meet the boss, Police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger). The twist, however, is that not only is Virgil innocent but he’s a highly respected homicide detective from Philadelphia, who has strong and reasonable opinions about the jaw-dropping racism that he’s just been subjected to. However, Tibbs is a professional and he begins to investigate the murder, forming an unlikely and uneasy alliance with Gillespie and getting closer to solving the crime. However, will the, uh… “good” people of Sparta be okay with a black man taking care of business and just who did the deed?
By modern standards, In the Heat of the Night’s story isn’t exactly groundbreaking, but in 1967 it was downright incendiary. Aside from a rock solid script from Stirling Silliphant and superb direction by Norman Jewison, the film has two major drawcards: Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. The latter in particular takes on a role that is both nuanced and uncomfortable and imbues it with so much method that every sweaty frown or exasperated sigh takes on extra dimension.
The film itself looks gorgeous, making the viewer feel absolutely immersed in a filthy hot Mississippi night where tempers are short and racism is in bountiful supply. Fans of chewy, thoughtful police procedurals will absolutely want to get on this one.
The Extras:
The release comes with an audio commentary by director Norman Jewison, cinematographer Haskell Wexler, and actors Rod Steiger and Lee Grant. There’s a very welcome video essay on Steiger titled When the Picture was Over: The Life and Films of Rod Steiger, Turning Up the Heat: Movie Making in the 60s featurette and a couple of featurettes that deal with the film’s iconic slapping scene, The Slap Heard Around the World, and a deep dive into the soundtrack by Quincy Jones, Breaking New Sound.
There’s also a flash-looking hardcover booklet with exclusive images and background info, if you’re the type that digs that kind of gear. It’s a solid, although by no means exhaustive, selection of extras that will please fans of the film and the late ‘60s era of filmmaking in general.
The Verdict:
In the Heat of the Night is, by modern standards, a bit of a meat and potatoes affair in terms of storytelling. However, this 1967 classic is more than worth a rewatch or first time viewing due to the superb performances of Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. Nuanced, tense and dripping with atmosphere, it’s the kind of film your grandad liked (but he wasn’t wrong to do so).
Boasting a clear, pleasingly grainy 4K print and a solid sack of extras, In the Heat of the Night is an easy recommendation for fans of classic cinema or those in the mood to watch a couple of old school actors absolutely scorching up the screen.
