Sidney Poitier is a steady, calm force among the wave of racial inequalities in a small Mississippi town here in the crime classic In the Heat of the Night. He is soft-spoken and intelligent, being a "homicide expert." He is observant and skillful, almost Sherlock Holmes-level. Acting opposite Poitier is Rod Steiger as a short-tempered, impatient local chief officer, reluctant to accept the presence of Poitier.
They solve a random murder together inside the hostile environment that is the town itself. The infamous scene shows Poitier slapping a privileged white man, which shows how "heated" the affair is. The central performances here are so fantastic that they allow the film to be special, and us to be completely mesmerized.
The film is never a bore, despite its basic storyline. There is a level of high intensity throughout with the flow never being broken. Not only are the technical credits impressive-particularly the fantastic Quincy Jones score, but the fearless writing itself also stood the test of time and aged amazingly. The story deals with racial issues that are still somewhat relevant, considering that the film is 55 years old. It is an angry film that speaks volumes.
They solve a random murder together inside the hostile environment that is the town itself. The infamous scene shows Poitier slapping a privileged white man, which shows how "heated" the affair is. The central performances here are so fantastic that they allow the film to be special, and us to be completely mesmerized.
The film is never a bore, despite its basic storyline. There is a level of high intensity throughout with the flow never being broken. Not only are the technical credits impressive-particularly the fantastic Quincy Jones score, but the fearless writing itself also stood the test of time and aged amazingly. The story deals with racial issues that are still somewhat relevant, considering that the film is 55 years old. It is an angry film that speaks volumes.