Events

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967, d Norman Jewison; starring Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant)

Sidney Poitier had a banner year in 1967, with not one, but three popular and critical hits in theaters. In The Heat of the Night (sandwiched that year between To Sir, With Love and Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner) would take Poitier back to a racially charged south, but this time in a position of authority.

Poitier plays Philadelphia detective Virgil Tibbs, who is mistaken for a murder suspect while visiting a small town in Mississippi. Rod Steiger is the racist local police chief who begrudgingly admits the mistake and allows Tibbs to assist in the investigation. As the two butt heads and unravel the details of the murder, the pair navigate the hostility of the town and their own growing respect for one another. An uneasy collaboration borne of necessity, the film is reminiscent of Poitier’s star turn in The Defiant Ones in 1958, albeit on the other side of the law.

Nominated for seven Academy Awards, In The Heat of the Night would win Best Picture and Best Actor for Steiger, as well as for Writing, Sound and Editing.

The Film Salon meets at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema located at 250 East Montecillo Drive. All screenings are $7 and tickets can be purchased in advance (recommended) through the Alamo Drafthouse website or at the door (seating may be limited). Come out early and enjoy some of the Alamo’s extensive drink and food options.

Please visit our website at www.filmsalon.org for direction and a link to purchase tickets.