In the Heat of the Night

A prominent businessman is found dead in a small Mississippi town, local patrol cop Wood, picks up the first black man he comes across, a man who just so happens to be Detective Virgil Tibbs, who's just passing through.

First question, why on Earth is this film not in IMDb's top 100 movies of all time, let alone top 250? It makes no sense, this incredible film deserves its place there.

Outstanding from start to finish, In the heat of the night is a terrific mystery, an intelligent whodunnit, with some remarkable characters, but so much more, it highlights the social situation of the time.

What I found extraordinary, is the way that Gillespie begins to see the world through Virgil's eyes, he gets just a glimpse of what life is like from Virgil's point of view, the pair share some incredible scenes, that scene where chat about marriage and loneliness was phenomenal.

It is incredible when you think that in 1966, just one year before, The US sent up Lunar Orbiter 1, the first craft to orbit the moon, and yet Society was dogged by the most horrific racism.

Poitier delivers an outstanding performance, Oscar worthy in the eyes of many fans, me included, such an impressive presence. Steiger is equally terrific, the way Gillespie develops is a key factor to this movie's success.

The music is just incredible, there's that exquisite track by Ray Charles, which features prominently, but every featured track is spot on, it's a soundtrack you'll want to own.

One of the greatest movies ever made.

10/10.