Film of the Day: 30
In the Heat of the Night (1967)
Racial segregation was unfortunately part of life in the United States of America up to the 1960s (lasting longer in the south). This of course separated just about everything between white people and black people. From not allowing black people into certain cafes to having different (labeled) drinking water fountains, to labeled bus seats. Not to mention education, medical and employment racism which understandably led to the race riots of the 1960s.
It was today in 1963 when the great John Fitzgerald Kennedy said that segregation is morally wrong and that it is "time to act". This of course was during the American Civil Rights Movement, and this was also the same day of the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" occurrence.
This was at the University of Alabama, as racist Governor of Alabama George Wallace, stood in front of the Foster Auditorium in an attempt to keep two black students (Vivian Malone and James Hood) from enrolling. However after the national guard of Alabama and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach confronted Wallace, he stood aside. Wallace was later appropriately named "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics.
For this occasion i have chosen In the Heat of the Night, which was based on a 1965 novel by John Ball. Set in the deep south of Mississippi, a man who was planning to start a factory (so is of course quite wealthy) is found dead and Police Chief Bill Gillespie (played by Rod Steiger) is determined to find his man. He later stumbles upon a black man in a train station with (according to Gillespie) more money a black man would have.
Gillespie brings this man in thinking he has found his man, embarrassingly finds out he is a highly respected homicide detective Virgil Tibbs (played by Sidney Poitier) from Philadelphia (in town visiting his mom). Of course Tibbs now can't wait to get out of this hick town, yet Gillespie's boss, after hearing about Tibbs's record, wants to keep Tibbs in town to help with the investigation. Of course Gillespie is not happy with this idea... and neither is the rest of the town.
One of the most unforgettable things about this film is the quote by the great Sidney Poitier:
Chief Gillespie: Virgil, that's a funny name for a ni**er boy that comes from Philadelphia. What do they call you up there?
Virgil Tibbs: They call me MISTER Tibbs!
The film was directed by Canadian film-maker Norman Jewison and also won Rod Steiger an Oscar for his performance. Steiger did give us a good performance, however Tibbs obviously shines over Steiger in every scene, and is now recognized as the superior performance of the film.
It went on to also won best picture (over Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate) and is known as one of the best films about the American Civil Rights Movement.
Click here for the trailer
.
It was today in 1963 when the great John Fitzgerald Kennedy said that segregation is morally wrong and that it is "time to act". This of course was during the American Civil Rights Movement, and this was also the same day of the "Stand in the Schoolhouse Door" occurrence.
This was at the University of Alabama, as racist Governor of Alabama George Wallace, stood in front of the Foster Auditorium in an attempt to keep two black students (Vivian Malone and James Hood) from enrolling. However after the national guard of Alabama and Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach confronted Wallace, he stood aside. Wallace was later appropriately named "The most influential loser" in 20th-century U.S. politics.
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| George Wallace - Stand in the Schoolhouse Door |
Gillespie brings this man in thinking he has found his man, embarrassingly finds out he is a highly respected homicide detective Virgil Tibbs (played by Sidney Poitier) from Philadelphia (in town visiting his mom). Of course Tibbs now can't wait to get out of this hick town, yet Gillespie's boss, after hearing about Tibbs's record, wants to keep Tibbs in town to help with the investigation. Of course Gillespie is not happy with this idea... and neither is the rest of the town.
 |
| Racial segregation sign |
Chief Gillespie: Virgil, that's a funny name for a ni**er boy that comes from Philadelphia. What do they call you up there?
Virgil Tibbs: They call me MISTER Tibbs!
The film was directed by Canadian film-maker Norman Jewison and also won Rod Steiger an Oscar for his performance. Steiger did give us a good performance, however Tibbs obviously shines over Steiger in every scene, and is now recognized as the superior performance of the film.
It went on to also won best picture (over Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate) and is known as one of the best films about the American Civil Rights Movement.
Click here for the trailer
.
Wow.....I seen this movie a long time ago and I remember it hit me like a Culture Shock. At the time I had no idea what Segregation really meant....it actually devided the American nation, and like you said, it took a great President to set the wheels in motion against this home grown racism!
ReplyDeleteA lot of films were made on this subject, but this one stuck in my mind.....maybe because it was the first of it's kind for me!
Great piece dude!