March 9, 2012

Directed By: Norman Jewison

1. How does the film relate to Chapter 25 in Foner? A solid answer should cover at least two themes from Foner. 

One theme that is discussed in Foner is racism. The film portrays this because at the beginning of the film, Virgil Tibbs a detective from Philadelphia who specializes in homicide cases is visiting Sparta, Mississippi. As he is waiting for the train to return to Philadelphia, he is arrested for Mr. Colbert’s murder, who is a wealthy businessman. Tibbs was arrested with no evidence against him, but only for the sole fact that he was the only African American at that train station. After being taken to the police station, the Chief Officer Gillespie found that Tibbs was the top homicide detective in Philadelphia. Tibbs is then assigned to assist in the murder investigation. This is related to chapter 25 in Foner, “In 1964, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in employment, institution like hospitals and schools, and privately owned public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, and theaters”(996). This shows that even after the law was put into effect, racial discrimination still continued in the United States. Foner also mentions how African Americans in the 1960’s were disrespected. This is also seen in the movie where Tibbs is disrespected by the police officers in Sparta when he is first brought into the police station. They automatically assume that he is guilty just because he is African American; they do not give him a chance to speak out and listen to what he has to say. If even these laws were place there was still racism that existed. Caucasians and African American’s would not get along. 

2.  What was the symbolism behind when Police Chief Bill Gillespie told Detective Virgil Tibbs “you’re just like the rest of us ain’t you?”

Chief Gillespie was pressured in time to figure out the culprit of the murder, when Tibbs was found to be the top homicide detective Gillespie was ordered to get Tibbs involved into the murder investigation. Mrs. Colbert threatened to take the business back up North if Tibbs was not involved in the case. When Tibbs was leaving to go back to Philadelphia, Gillespie came to the train station to tell Tibbs not to go and come back to help solve the case. He began questioning Tibbs and was telling him how he is intelligent and would be able to easily solve the homicide. Gillespie told Tibbs “You’re just like the rest of us, ain’t you?” by saying this Gillespie meant that for a change African Americans would be superior to Whites. For once White American men would be under him. Tibbs helping Officer Gillespie figure out the murder mystery was not to show off his intelligence, he only wanted justice to be served; he did not feel he had control over white men.

3. In the Heat of the Night was released in 1967. Do you think it offers a pessimistic or hopeful vision for the future of race relations in the United States? Do you feel the film’s vision is realistic given what was happening during the time period? Be sure to fully explain why or why not and to give at least two scenes from the film to support your answer. You might also want to consider the cultural context of the film by connecting this question to the rise of Black Nationalism.

In my opinion this film showed a hopeful vision for the future of race relations in the United States. The film helped the audience understand that each race should treat on another fairly with respect and kindness. This movie also showed that by mistreating and being disrespectful to people does not get one anywhere. Proper communication is crucial to building effective relationships between races. Also I think that an important part in this movie was Mrs. Colbert’s role since she suggested that Tibbs help and remain on the case under the investigation had completed. Even though she was a Caucasian female and he was an African American male she treated him like other white males and trusted him to find out who the culprit was. She looked past the racial problems, and by doing so her husbands murder was successfully solved.

4. Pick one character from the film and explain what you think he or she “stands for”—what do the filmmakers want the audience to learn from thinking about the character and what does this depiction reveal about the American culture in the 1960s?

I think that Mrs. Colbert was an important character in this film because she has a broad view of people of African American descent. She looks past all characteristics that others thought about blacks and accepted Tibbs to complete his job and solve the murder. Mrs. Colbert is an important character in the movie because this showed the audience how important it was to look past racial aspects of people and treat them with equality. Mrs. Colbert is a good example in the movie and she accepts the laws put into place and does not use discrimination when employing Tibbs as the homicide detective for her husband’s murder. This gives the audience an example of how race should not be a way in which someone is judged.