In the Heat of the Night was in my high school required reading and the movie was required viewing. I've read the novel countless times over the last 45 years and I'm about to start it again, I've seen the movie countless times and each time see something new. Virgil Tibbs and Chief Gillespie both hold your attention. There is a murder. A rich man is dead. He came to Sparta to build a new factory.The man's death signals the death knell for Sparta a dying town. The police must act fast and when a black man unknown to any of them is found at the train station. He's arrested. The man's name is Police Detective Virgil Tibbs a top homicide detective out of Philidelphia. When Virgil's Captain offers Virgil's Services to the woefully inexperienced and under manned police force they accept. Except Virgil is a black man poking around in white man's business and its a good way to get him killed.
The murder is the macguffin that Hitchcock once wrote about. The plot device that drives the plot forward.It matters but not too much the whole point is Virgil Tibbs and Bill Gillespie The murder while complicated and takes twists and turns. Pales in the background.compared to how Virgil is treated by the white community. In the Heat of the night is a wonderful time capsule of what was once The South at its Jim Crow best. The pivotal moment occurs after a long day and after which Gillespie saves Virgil from a beating and possible death from a mob. He brings Virgil home. To his own home and makes a admission. He's never had Anyone over. No close friends as he has none. No wife no kids. Virgil despite his skin color is the first person to ever be in Gillespie's home. When Gillespie makes his admission of sorrow Virgil mistakenly tells him he's sorry and Gillespie flies into a rage telling him he doesn't need Virgil's sympathy. It's a important scene as Gillespie is having a black man in his home where he has had no one else. It's a admission that He sees Virgil as a friend. But southern traditions forbid him from saying so. The police Chief cannot have a black friend who is better then him. then at the end where Gillespie Carries Virgil's suitcase to the train for him, A strong sign of respect and friendship there even their parting words come hard to them. They respect each other. Two scenes stand out one is where the rich man slaps Virgil and Virgil slaps him back. And he shouts to Gillespie You saw that what are you going to do about it ? and Gillespie says I don't know. He tells him I'll remember that and turns to Virgil there was once a time when I would have had you shot for that. You believe it. The menace of the south oozes throughout that scene and you know Virgil tibbs is in real danger despite having the police chief as a friend and protector. In fact he puts both of them in danger for that act. The second pivotal scene is the one everyone remembers where a angry Virgil is being bullied by the police. And Gillespie taunts him with what do they call you and Virgil roars back with a defiant THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS ! And the movie stops for a beat and you can feel it. There is a change in the air coming to the south. That is if Virgil can not only solve the case before he himself gets murdered And if he can keep his pride in check long enough to work as a police officer.
A powerful movie that could not be made today. There are a few details form John Ball's novel that are missing and that could have added to the story. Bill Gillespie's back story for instance.. But here we don't need it Rod steiger's Powerful acting carries it over telling us all we need to know about Chief Gillespie. And we already know everything we need to know about Virgil Tibbs. He's black he's proud and he's the best Homicide detective there is and he's good at his job.
A powerful story that demands you watch it at least once. To show us how far we've come and how much further we have to go.
The murder is the macguffin that Hitchcock once wrote about. The plot device that drives the plot forward.It matters but not too much the whole point is Virgil Tibbs and Bill Gillespie The murder while complicated and takes twists and turns. Pales in the background.compared to how Virgil is treated by the white community. In the Heat of the night is a wonderful time capsule of what was once The South at its Jim Crow best. The pivotal moment occurs after a long day and after which Gillespie saves Virgil from a beating and possible death from a mob. He brings Virgil home. To his own home and makes a admission. He's never had Anyone over. No close friends as he has none. No wife no kids. Virgil despite his skin color is the first person to ever be in Gillespie's home. When Gillespie makes his admission of sorrow Virgil mistakenly tells him he's sorry and Gillespie flies into a rage telling him he doesn't need Virgil's sympathy. It's a important scene as Gillespie is having a black man in his home where he has had no one else. It's a admission that He sees Virgil as a friend. But southern traditions forbid him from saying so. The police Chief cannot have a black friend who is better then him. then at the end where Gillespie Carries Virgil's suitcase to the train for him, A strong sign of respect and friendship there even their parting words come hard to them. They respect each other. Two scenes stand out one is where the rich man slaps Virgil and Virgil slaps him back. And he shouts to Gillespie You saw that what are you going to do about it ? and Gillespie says I don't know. He tells him I'll remember that and turns to Virgil there was once a time when I would have had you shot for that. You believe it. The menace of the south oozes throughout that scene and you know Virgil tibbs is in real danger despite having the police chief as a friend and protector. In fact he puts both of them in danger for that act. The second pivotal scene is the one everyone remembers where a angry Virgil is being bullied by the police. And Gillespie taunts him with what do they call you and Virgil roars back with a defiant THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS ! And the movie stops for a beat and you can feel it. There is a change in the air coming to the south. That is if Virgil can not only solve the case before he himself gets murdered And if he can keep his pride in check long enough to work as a police officer.
A powerful movie that could not be made today. There are a few details form John Ball's novel that are missing and that could have added to the story. Bill Gillespie's back story for instance.. But here we don't need it Rod steiger's Powerful acting carries it over telling us all we need to know about Chief Gillespie. And we already know everything we need to know about Virgil Tibbs. He's black he's proud and he's the best Homicide detective there is and he's good at his job.
A powerful story that demands you watch it at least once. To show us how far we've come and how much further we have to go.
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