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.

• Norman JewisonDirector
• Stirling SilliphantScreenplay
• Quincy JonesOriginal Music Composer

• Sidney PoitierVirgil Tibbs
• Rod SteigerPolice Chief Bill Gillespie
• Warren OatesDeputy Sam Wood
• Peter WhitneyDeputy Courtney
• Lee GrantMrs. Leslie Colbert
• Anthony JamesRalph
• William SchallertMayor Schubert
• Scott WilsonHarvey Oberst
• Larry GatesEric Endicott
• James PattersonMr. Purdy
• Quentin DeanDelores Purdy
• Kermit MurdockHenderson