Fiction
DVD
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Details
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EDITION
DESCRIPTION
1 videodisc (112 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in
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Originally produced as a motion picture in 1967
Virgil Tibbs is a renowned homicide detective from Philadelphia returning to Mississippi in the sweltering summer to visit his mother, when a rich factory owner is found dead. The industrialist was white, Tibbs is black and in the Deep South at the time, that is enough reason for the local cops to arrest him on suspicion murder. After his identity and credentials are established, the Chief of Police lets Tibbs go and attempts to enlist his help in solving the case. An uneasy and complicated relationship develops between the southern Sheriff and the city slicker. Sidney Poitier stars as the superior sleuth who rediscovers the small town racism he escaped through his education. Rod Steiger is the local sheriff who is forced to examine his own prejudices and repent them
Special features: Commentary by Norman Jewison, Lee Grant, Rod Steiger and cinematographer Haskell Wexler ; "Turning up the heat: Movie-making in the '60's" featurette ; "The slap heard around the world" featurette ; "Quincy Jones: Breaking new sound" featurette ; original theatrical trailer
Based on a novel by John Ball
SSidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant, Larry Gates, James Patterson, William Schallert, Beah Richards, Peter Whitney, Kermit Murdock, Larry D. Mann, Matt Clark, Arthur Malet, Fred Stewart, Quentin Dean, Scott Wilson, Anthony James
Rating: Not rated
DVD, region 1, NTSC, anamorphic widescreen (1:85:1), Dolby surround, Dolby Digital mono
Closed-captioned
English, French or Spanish dialogue; English, French or Spanish subtitles
Academy Award, 1968: Best Actor in a Leading Role (Steiger) ; Best Film Editing ; Best Picture ; Best Sound ; Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium