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In The Heat of the Night (1967)
🕑 Added 2025-01-31 20:45:41 +0000 UTCHappy AFI FRIDAY PEOPLE!
Pleasantly surprised by this one—wasn’t sure I could even put it into words by the end! Luckily, I got a second chance since I forgot to record my outro… is Mercury in retrograde?
***spoilers below***
This one hit in a lot of ways, and without spoiling too much, it definitely stirred up some feelings. I was completely drawn in by the film’s style—every shot, performance, soundtrack choice, and lighting decision just worked for me. But what really makes it stand out is how bold it feels for its time. It’s gripping as a crime thriller but layered with so much more—tension, power dynamics, and moments that still feel sharp today.
Sidney Poitier commands the screen with such presence, and Rod Steiger’s performance is just as compelling in a totally different way. I really wish we got more scenes with them together by the end and I loved Rod’s moments of vulnerability. Their dynamic drives the film, making every conversation feel like a battle of wills. That why I felt like there was no clear hero (but still feel like there was a hero 🤣).The way they play off each other, especially in an era where films like this seem like they weren’t the norm, is what I think makes it special. Especially that one scene! Wow!
Brilliant story telling for me, with an interesting plot point at the Center. Creative way to tackle the themes of the movie. I have a feeling this will only get richer with rewatches as I get more accustomed to the dialogue of the time. But hey, I think I’m already doing a pretty good job of getting it! LOL
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Xx
Ames
Comments
China Andronicus
Sidney Poitier truly was one of the greatest. I again recommend Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? which I had submitted during your quest for romantic dramas. It features him going into a mixed-race marriage during the 60s, when that was very unpopular and still actually illegal in several states. Beah Richards, who you saw in this film as Mama Caleba, plays his mother, and has one of my absolute favorite monologues from any film ever. Katherine Hepburn won yet another Oscar in the role of his mother-in-law to be, and as always, is phenomenal. It's both dramatic and funny, and sadly as relevant today as ever. I don't think it's possible for me to love it more than I do.
Lana Gorgeous
Loved watching this with you, oh a bit a realism. Most of this wasn't filmed in the south for safety reasons. Things were so bad in the south because of Jim Crow, that they feared for Sidney Poiter's safety. The only thing they could not duplicate were the cotton fields when he was going to Endicott's. That scene was authentic, and they needed special precautions to ensure Sidney's safety. There is actually a documentary about the making of this film you should watch sometime, very interesting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4y75KlAK-w . Oh another bit of trivia, Rod Steiger was the Oscar, and that same year Sidney Starred in another great film and another amazing performance in a movie called Guess who's Coming to Dinner. Well worth a watch also.
