In The Heat of the Night

Philadelphia homicide detective Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier, in an iconic performance of the Black cop in cinema) arrives in a small Southern town to visit his mother but is arrested for murder solely because he is Black. After Tibbs presents his credentials and also clears another suspect with his thorough police work, he joins Police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) in investigating the crime. Incredulous, wary, and unapologetically racist at first, Gillespie reluctantly comes to respect his northern colleague as they work their way toward the truth. Director Norman Jewison’s film earned five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Steiger).

Series curator Steven W. Thrasher introduces the screening on June 6.