In the Heat of the Night

African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie, the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.

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Cast

• 
  Sidney Poitier

  Virgil Tibbs
• 
  Rod Steiger

  Police Chief Bill Gillespie
• 
  Warren Oates

  Deputy Sam Wood
• 
  Peter Whitney

  Deputy Courtney
• 
  Lee Grant

  Mrs. Leslie Colbert
• 
  Anthony James

  Ralph

Crew

• Director · Norman Jewison
• Screenplay · Stirling Silliphant
• Producer · Walter Mirisch