In the Heat of the Night (1967 Norman Jewison)

Scr. Stirling Silliphant (AA), novel John Ball. Black Detective in 1967 Deep South finds himself unwillingly investigating a murder. One of two key Hollywood race-related films from the same year with the same star.

Rod Steiger (AA), Sidney Poitier (not even nominated; crackling with energy), Warren Oates, Lee Grant, Beah Richards (also in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?). The girl playing Dolores is called Quentin Dean (are you sure? Could be an IMDB error.)

Sidney Poitier and Warren Oates

Edited by Hal Ashby (AA). Music Quincy Jones. Photography ("I'll never work with him again!" *) Haskell Wexler using bounced, soft light: desaturated. It does look great: absence of shadows.

* Well he did, unusually: Wexler also shot Thomas Crown Affair.

I love the scene in which Larry gates slaps Poitier, so he slaps him back. Also the touch at the end where we see Steiger carrying Poitier's suitcase. Opening (Poitier being arrested) funny.

"They call me Mister Tibbs!"

Jewison / Wexler / Ashby catch the life of poor blacks subtly.

(19 July 2010.)