IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT 1967 ....'It sure is Groovy!'

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT won the Academy Award for best picture in 1967, along with four other Oscars. The film tells the story of a Philadelphia police detective who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a racist small town in Mississippi. A wealthy man planning to build a factory in Sparta, is murdered. Police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) plays the town's hard-headed, bigoted sheriff. Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier), passing through, is arrested at the train station with a substantial amount of cash in his wallet. As the plot twists and turns, Tibbs wants nothing more than to leave as quickly as possible. Gillespie then begs for his expertise. While the tension builds, clues and suspects mount, Gillespie and his deputies develop begrudging respect for Tibbs. Excellent acting and a sharp script give the characters humanity. The first-rate supporting cast includes Lee Grant as the victim's angry widow, Warren Oates as a voyeuristic deputy, and Scott Wilson as an unlucky fugitive. Also, not forgetting, Anthony James as Ralph, the creepy and sleazy diner counterman. The firm direction (Norman Jewison) and cinematography, capture both the shabbiness of the town and the beauty of the surrounding countryside.
Although the film was set in the fictional Mississippi town of Sparta (no connection to the real Sparta, Mississippi), part of the movie was filmed in Sparta, Illinois, where many of the film's landmarks can still be seen.
Quincy Jones wrote the score for 'In the Heat of the Night'. The film, owing to its setting, had a country and bluesy sound.
'IT SURE IS GROOVY!' - GIL BERNAL also performed on numerous movie soundtracks both as a tenor player and vocalist. Gil sang the Academy Award nominated theme song, 'The Eyes of Love', by Quincy Jones and Bob Russell for the movie, 'Banning', and recorded as a vocalist for RCA Records, Liberty Records, and Amaret Records.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• In-the-Heat-of-the-Night
• Sidney-Poitier
• Rod-Steiger
• Norman-Jewison
• Gil-Bernal
• Best-picture-1967
• Quincy-Jones
• Oscar

[SOULINTEGRITY]

SUPERB

[ROBSBIGSCITYSOUL]

Thanks John!

[coolitababy]

Heard this song playing in the police car at the beginning of the film this evening and thought 'what a great song' and here it is...talk about groovy!

[ROBSBIGSCITYSOUL]

Sure is ...

Thanks for your comment.

[trustratplaya]

Jess the mechanic was my uncle. I'm very proud of this fact.

[ROBSBIGSCITYSOUL]

Would that be the actor Khalil Bezaleel? ®

[leafsbest123]

What do they call you from where you come from. THEY CALL ME MISTER TIBBS! Greatest line ever

[joeyjeep1231]

@coolitababy Gil Bernal also did another cool song titled "Can you love a poor boy?" Check it out on You tube :)

[BSBINC1]

i live in the town were they shot the train statio n

[philtorpey]

Do you know whether any of the four vocal tracks from 'In the heat of the night' ever made it as a single release?

I have the original UA pressing (UK) - It was all about Foul Owl for me.

[dearmalika]

One of the best movies and a great song!

[sheltv100]

Talk about groovy, that song is groovy. More groovy than Lady Gaga.

[LVEMEDO]

ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES EVER like what you done with it

[USNAQ3]

@trustratplaya Cool!

[brightingsky2009]

Seen it 100 time's! Up to 101 than....