Fox Tucson Theatre

In the Heat of the Night was the Do the Right Thing of its time. A film that asked some tough questions about the state of our nation at a key point in our history. Sidney Poitier gives one of the most important and memorable performances in American film history as Virgil Tibbs. Poitier¡¦s declaration of "They call me Mister Tibbs" became one of the most famous lines ever. It was a statement of dignity that transcended this one role in this one film. ¡V Richard Roeper This provocative mystery thriller, with an evocative score from composer Quincy Jones, is a "powerful film" (The New York Times). While traveling in the Deep South, Virgil Tibbs, a black Philadelphia homicide detective, becomes unwittingly embroiled in the murder investigation of a prominent businessman. Finding the killer proves to be difficult, however, especially when his efforts are constantly thwarted by the bigoted town sheriff in an Oscar winning performance by Rod Steiger. Putting aside their differences and prejudices, they join forces in a desperate race against time to discover the shocking truth.