In the Heat of the Night 1967
A wealthy and powerful Northern industrialist is murdered one night in the agricultural town of Sparta, Mississippi. A well-dressed black stranger is the prime suspect, detained only because his clothes and hair color match those found at the crime scene. However, as the case is brought before Sheriff Bill Gillespie, it is revealed that the cunning, fat, gum-chewing, strong-jawed rogue is actually Virgil Tibbs, Philadelphia’s top homicide expert. Despite Gillespie’s racial biases, the animosity between him and Tibbs escalates as Tibbs quickly proves the innocence of recently arrested suspect Colbert. The Mayor suggests to Gillespie that taking on the case could also benefit Tibbs: Will he find the killer or be used as a scapegoat?
