Sidney and Rod raised the bar in this masterpiece. No matter how many times I watch it, the energy is just sensational - these guys were on another level.
I think the only class in that act was Sidney Poitier. He should have got the economy award for that movie but you know what happens in the 60s. One of the greatest black actors of all time
Can't stop watching this no matter how many times i watch it, Rod Steiger and Sidney poitier are magnificent, God have mercy on both of them for all the good time they gave us in this short life.
Very true, but please do not forget Lilies of the Field. He was a great character in that movie not just a name on the screen like you so often see today.
@campbellscollision Yes, he won best actor for his portrayal of Homer Smith (known to the nuns as "Schmidt" throughout the film) in 'Lillies of the Field' (1963.) He wasn't the first to win an Oscar though. Hattie McDaniel won best supporting actress for her work in the epic 'Gone With the Wind' (1939.)
The look on Chief Gillespie's face was out of this world when Mr. Tibbs announced that he is a police officer and even presented him the badge. I mean it was absolutely astounding.
It's called a surprise turning point. Instead of a criminal, he turns out to be a representative of the law. It could not be any worse for Chief Gillespie.
As Sparta's new police chief, he knew keeping his job was dependent upon solving the murder of Sparta's most important citizen. He would do anything to solve it, even putting aside his prejudice.
The whole film is these two men slowly coming to respect, understand, and like one another, across a vast gulf. I have the utmost respect for Sidney Poitier, but Steiger's performance in it is so complex and nuanced that if we unnecessarily have to choose I would give the laurels to him. It's always difficult for him, always conflicted, but he overcomes it all and expresses the affection, at the end, that he's come to feel. Just wonderful.
I'm "seeing" it with new understanding as an adult. You will notice the progression from "boy" to "man" to "officer" during the course of this interaction.
I'll nominate Steiger's performance in this scene as the best ever in a film. Contempt, fear, bravado, helplessness, loneliness, all in 5 minutes. Plus the whole Southern racism thing. Never been topped, never will be.
George C. Scott turned down the role of Gillespie. It was taken by Rod steiger and became his greatest role; he won the Academy Award for best actor. Two years later the role of Patton was offered to Rod Steiger. When he turned it down, it was given to George C. Scott; the greatest role of his career for which he won the Academy Award.
I didn't no that, but l was born, son of ingrapts, But we was Iru.sh...when the British police " if you was Irish Sue, ain't never gonna be awesome, article or areasted, no Sir, ....but the fu* kIn* British police did that to Us, just because we were Irish....So we will always be your Friends..... sorry, my Mam will probably be ashamed if she Knew l shouted at ya....x
When I was 15, my dad took me to this film, in downtown lily white, Traverse City, Michigan. I never in my life realized that this was part of the American landscape. It was a wake up call for my young, naive view of the world. Nothing was innocent after this flick. Best film ever made, for so many cultural reasons.
What a scene. What a scene. Just imagining the amount of pride swallowing to do to ask for help at the end. The attempt, however weak, put aside decades of prejudice and admit that you need help. And THEN to see Sidney clearly doing the same arithmetic in his own head as he decides whether to step out that door. The weakness, the fear, the distrust, the loneliness, the desperation, the courage, the pride, the forced calm, the anger,... It's electric. Its a masterpiece. A total masterpiece.
RIP and long live Rod Steiger (April 14, 1925 - July 9, 2002), aged 77 And RIP and long live Sidney Poitier (February 20, 1927 - January 6, 2022), aged 94 You both will always be remembered as legends.
Michael Lambrecht Yes, but Sidney already had an Oscar by this time. Stieger had the more challenging role, he starts out a hardcore bigoted Sheriff and by the end he’s reached a new understanding but he’s very conflicted throughout
I am Scottish and I remember seeing this film and being shocked at it for it’s obvious content. But now I consider it to be a masterpiece. A classic. Steiger and Sir Pottier were masters of their art.
I saw this film when it first was released. In all my film watching, I still consider this one of the finest films ever made. The whole tone of the film was so authentically "old South" (of course, the film was certainly created in the perfect time period as well). The chemistry between Steiger and Poitier was tremendous! The interaction could be FELT -- unlike what sometimes passes for acting now. In addition, unlike many present-day films, this cinematic gem did not have to rely on special effects. And finally, the music. Quincy Jones composed the sound track and Ray Charles sang the theme song -- it doesn't get better than that!
And it's movies like this that kept me from crossing the Mason Dixon line forever! I'm from Philly and I was 29 in 1990 first time I was called a Yankee! Oh there was a fight! Wanna piss me off? Call me a Yankee! So don't tell no body........lol!
Yes. Both. Equal. Not just Poitier's show . Steiger sadly is no longer with us but Poitier is and deserves extra praise in his lifetime for playing militants ,after these feel-good flicks of '67, but in real life has been a constructive not destructive force. Credit his Lithuanian-American wife Joanna Shimkus, the beauty in his , unknown but immortal " Last Man", '69? , for keeping him mellow ??!
I’ve been watching this film on and off for over 40 years. My flatmate from back then and I still know every line off by heart so much so, that we used to turn the volume off and play each of the parts between us.
We lost a great one today... R I P Sir Sidney you will be greatly missed This is without argument one of the best films ever to hit the screen. In the Potier lineage it comes in second only to Buck and the Preacher.
This scene still holds up today 55 years later. What an insight into the deep-seated racism existing in that era in that area. The look on Sydney Poitier‘s face is priceless. Seeing this makes me want to download the audio book.
@@T_C242yeah, ur right, but we'll see after his 14ish Federal Felony cases wind up. Southern District of NY 1st, I think. Georgia & Fla have to wait. But, to say "everything" is premature. His CFO already pled out to all charges with the end of his cooperation being .... never : it might go fast. Still don't think it's everything though, imo
Possible one of the greatest films in the past 50 years ! The story line , the personal conflict, the setting . A story within a story. Magnificently done and the actors were at the peak of their craft. Still relevant to this day . Sadly, they don't make movies like this anymore.
The long silence after Poitier says, "I'm a police officer," gave the 1967 New York City audience time to laugh and applaud. This movie was a delight to watch for the first time with that audience!
You sir are obviously talking out of your ass - Poitier might have not been in his hey days anymore in that specific era you are babbling about, but if you had a sense of acting art, you would know how he shined on movies like "Pressure Point" or "Lilies of the field" around the sixties long before a "Bruce Willis" or Julia Roberts set a foot in acting - You sound too foolish & bitter.
What I find awesome about this movie is the fact that the two main actors, Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier initially didn't get along, but after this movie was done, they remained friends for the rest of Steiger's life.
Narh! who said that? I read that Rod Steiger gave the actors involved in this movie many acting tips being such an experienced actor himself at the time
RIP Sidney, he and the other actors made this film unmissable and unforgettable. The instant you started watching it you knew you were on to something special.
To CascaKasca:I was going to mention Warren Oates till I saw your posting.He was also in another classic The Wild Bunch,excellent in the role in the Dillinger & showed his comedic chops in Stripes.He did a lot of film & TV work before in he passed away in 1982 at age 52 of a heart attack.
Certainly. Both Poitier and Steiger (and Warren Oates and Lee Grant and others from the film) were all trained theatrical actors. The audience came to see them. Today, the audience wants to see special effects not the acting. The "actor" is just a pretty face who stands there while all the CGIs do the "work."
Ross Ion Coyle in 2013 I saw this film on the first and only time on the big screen at the ArcLight cinema at an event hosted by afi Sidney Poitier introduced the print.
Yep, they are magnificent both of them - also, the way they use pauses between their lines to build up tension and atmosphere. Sure, the deflated look of the Chief is great, but you also sense how tired he is as he moves behind his desk and drops into the chair...
That looong silence after he said he was a police officer; the ability of Steiger to convey shock, surprise, denial and acceptance all at the same time. You could see all the emotions in conflict; his old time prejudice fighting his instinctive loyalty and respect for a fellow officer finally resolving in his "I'm not an expert!!" acceptance of the man he sees. A black man; but a police officer. Brilliant acting; and of course, Poitier. No other words are necessary to describe him.
This is one of my all-time favorite movies featuring two of my all-time favorite actors. The subtle changes in Gillespie over the course of the film were just phenomenal, and Tibbs more than held his own throughout it. A truly nuanced performance by both of them. Classic all the way around. Descanse en pas, Senor Poitier. Your performances across the board from this movie, To Sir, With Love, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, and so many others were truly groundbreaking. The word legend gets tossed around far too easily but you have earned every letter of that word. The world is just a little bit dimmer now. You will be missed.
Man! Just watching two of the very best actors ever to grace the screen gives me chills even after all these years and at least 20 viewings. Sidney Poitier and Rod Stiger had a chemistry rarely seen. It is the most vital part of this masterpiece, in my humble opinion.
Chris Tennant it’s too much work.. I could only imagine what it was to be a black anything in this movie.. these policemen are so ignorantly racist.. but they would behave this way to anyone they perceive as different..that don’t fit their narrative .. they don’t even know how to be humble.. this guy is smarter and makes more money and they hate him even more because he ain’t one of them..they still think they are better..SO SAD!! in reality they are all just people.. nobody better or worse..
@@jayvanslayer2787 If it was sloppy...it must be very close blood kin to you. I'll bet you, or anyone else on earth, any amount of money, that there NEVER was a tv series called, "of heat of night".
Not a word of exaggeration - I must have watched this movie 100 times - and every time, it gets better than before. Easily one of the best films ever made!
The dullness of the office, the old office furniture, the wooden chair, the creaking noises, in the middle of the night and the heat, the good company of a chewing gum and bottle of coke... full of asmr
This is one of those movies that if you're flipping through the channels and come across, you're hooked until the end. Poitier and Steiger have such great chemistry. It's a joy watching their relationship develop.
I know. I wasn't even born when "In The Heat Of The Night" was released, but the first time I watched it, I loved it. It's held up well over the years. I can understand why audiences in cinemas would have been shocked by the slapping scene (Tibbs slapping a white bigot). Steiger and Poitier would go to screenings to gauge the reactions of black and white audience members. Apparently, blacks would cheer, while the response from whites was "Oh!"
It wasn't the great acting America was turning the leftist remember you had other films about black and white relationships (Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Etc..) this is when socialism started rearing its ugly head !
I don't care how much more famous "I'm a police officer" or "They call me Mr. Tibbs" are, my favorite line in the movie is Steiger's "Yeah. Oh, YEAH!" at Warren Oates when he shows him Tibbs' police ID. In that instant he is a whirlwind of emotion, and every one of them is felt in that simple line.
That was perfection at its BEST! Two fantastic actors squaring off, and both winning in the end. The plot was excellent, the scenery couldn't be better......E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T
I don’t know about anyone else, but I was so drawn into this tense and brilliantly acted scene that I forgot where I was for a few minutes. Sidney Poitier conveyed so much in simply the way he was looking at Rod Steiger while he was being subjected to the expected assumptions and prejudice. Patient indignation, fury, confirmation of southern racist attitudes, and letting the man make a fool of himself before presenting his police id. All conveyed just in an expression. Brilliant.
Hell, I would! I'm white as Wonder Bread, but after being treated like that by cops that are as dumb as rocks... I wouldn't trust them with the weather report.
No one should forget the time when this great movie was made. A time when millions of human beings were facing opression and at the same time taking steps toward eliminating them. Sidney Poitier made many movies that showed the dignity and respect that everone deserves. EVERYONE. Sidney Poitier embodied the best of everything. Rest in peace Mr. Poitier. Sir.
I cannot remember a tense scene in any film ever to match this one. These 2 legendary actors made a difficult scene during a real socially sensitive and disorderly time look so easy and electrifying. They truly represented the best that the golden age of Hollywood had to offer.
The entire scene builds and builds to ONE phrase by Rod Steiger "....because I'm not an expert.....officer." That one word, 'officer' makes all that follows between these two men possible, funny that the sheriff makes the first move to bridge the racial divide between them.
@@poetcomic1 The gap WAS bridged because the Chief gave Virgil respect BOTH as a fellow officer & expert. As the story develops, Chief sees him as a MAN, only having been issued a different UNIFORM at birth.
This scene alone gave two Oscars to this fantastic film, one to Rod Steiger for Best Actor and one for Best Picture of the year 1967, Sidney Poitier was fabulous in this picture and will be sorely missed !!!!!
This is an absolutely riveting scene - beautifully written and fabulously acted by Poitier and Steiger. The dialogue is spot-on, but there is so much more happening above and beyond the words spoken. I never tire of watching it.
So proud of Sidney Portier for refusing to perform in movies that did not present blacks in a positive light. He's a classic example of "You get what you ask for in life." My favorite actor of all times & my father's as well. The world is definitely a better place because of him.
In my humble opinion, this is arguably the best or one the best Sidney Poitier movies of all. R.I.P. Sidney, you had a phenomenally successful career! R.I.P. to Mr. Rod Steiger. Great movie!!
This movie opened my eyes for Rod Staiger. Great actor. I had never heard about him before. US and western movies were not shown in East Europe at the time. I watch their classic movies decades after their creations.
Have seen this movie more than once since its release in my humble opinion this is not only one of the best films in American cinema but one of the best scenes in world cinema .r.i.p Sidney ya handsome bastard and a great actor
@@alforliniteaching5670 * He fit the mold for a southern police chief. Very believable. Unlike Carroll O'Connor. Of course, the TV show couldn't have the same character.
Sidney Poitier was in three pictures that were released in 1967, " To Sir, With Love " , " Guess Who's Coming to Dinner " and " In the Heat of the Night". He was sensational in all three films.
Brilliant scene written by the great Stirling Silliphant. No surprise he won the Oscar for this classic film. Poitier & Steiger are in top form and nobody has ever worked chewing gum better on screen than Gillespie does throughout the movie.
I knew Rod Steiger in the mid '80's ,even stayed in his house and held that Oscar in my hand( they're heavy). His wife at the time was my new wife's best friend.....never liked her but Rod was cool , however he was very depressed. Tremendous actor in an era of greats but this movie was one of the best!
For real? I consider him easily top 10 actors of all time. His depth is nearly unmatched. Anthony Hopkins might be nearest to him in style. Did his chronic depression make it difficult for you to get to know him?
This scene should be shown in every acting class. Steiger touching the rifle when he says he’s running a clean town, Poitier dropping the bag after he’s asked how he killed a man, Steiger not looking at the door when someone knocks and opens, and sipping the Dr. Pepper right before before raising his voice, every single movement has a reason.
There is so much acting going on in these old movies, it's mesmerizing. Every subtle movement and glare. There's a lot of this missing in modern cinema.
Agree 100%. There is an incredible amount of detail in this movie. Most modern movies move way too quickly to bother with that. They are mostly flair and action for an audience with a short attention span. This movie is for people who like to think.
True. Every move, every sound, every tick propels the scene and the story. Not a single move is wasted. Even the silences inbetween can be louder than actual spoken words. Classic cinema, top notch acting from Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger.
For those who think $162.39 a week is pretty small, that was in 1967, today that translates to $1184.39 EDIT: updated info, in 2023 that would be $1510.57, per week, net. So assuming Tibbs is being truthful about that $162.39 per week and not just snarky, that's $78,549 and change per year. Median salary today for Police Detectives in Philadelphia, PA is $73,245, so Tibbs is making better than average.
