Delta Cultural Center African American Film Festival: In the Heart of the Night

The DCC's African American film festival opens with the classic whodunit, "In the Heat of the Night." In this high drama mystery, Sidney Poitier plays Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia who becomes involved in a murder investigation in the small racially segregated town of Sparta, Mississippi. This is the first in this special series of films celebrating African American Culture and its influence on film and entertainment.

It is open to the public and admission is free. For more information contact Richard Spilman, DCC education coordinator at 870.338.4350, or richard.spilman@arkansas.gov.

If you want an "on the edge-of-your seat" thrill ride, this movie is a must see! Tibbs is caught up in the tensions of a racially hostile southern town when he is mistakenly arrested after the murder of a prominent businessman. The confusion is soon resolved, but when local police chief Gillespie, played by Rod Steiger, learns that Tibbs is the Philadelphia PD's number one homicide expert, he reluctantly asks for his assistance. Tibbs' life is clearly in danger but he perseveres in a highly charged and racially explosive environment until the killer is found.

Here's an interesting fact, you probably didn't know: Sidney Poitier insisted that the movie be filmed in the north because of an incident in which he and Harry Belafonte were almost killed by Ku Klux Klansman during a visit to Mississippi. Hence the selection of Sparta, Illinois (instead of Sparta, Miss.) for the location filming. Nevertheless, the filmmakers and actors did venture briefly into Tennessee for the outdoor scenes at a cotton plantation because there was no similar cotton plantation in Illinois that could be used. While there, Poitier slept with a gun under his pillow during production. Poitier did receive threats from local racist so the shoot was cut short and production returned to Illinois.