In the Heat of the Night (1967) Discussion with Lee Grant, Walter Mirisch and Norman Jewison

[@LPJack02]

RIP Walter Mirisch (November 8, 1921 - February 24, 2023), aged 101 And RIP Norman Jewison (July 21, 1926 - January 20, 2024), aged 97 You both will be remembered as legends.

[@jamesdrynan]

Wonderful that Jewison endorsed Grant for the role. Her scene with Poitier is extraordinarily poignant. Hard to believe how important the slap was in year. It was a shock to the 1967 audience. The " ...little lonely..." scene between Poitier and Steiger in his house is perfect! There should have been two Best Actor Oscars that year. One of my favorite movies!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Steiger didn’t want his pity.

[@4orrcountry]

The slap and the scene in Steiger's apartment were ad-libbed. Great actors make memorable scenes.

[@benkata]

they all look great for 90 something

[@January.]

Rod Steiger has my vote

[@nibsvkh]

Sidney looks healthy...any ideas why he didn't join them on stage?

[@cmcb09]

he's had some heart problems in recent years and they hadn't even been sure if he was going to be up to make an appearance.

[@KutWrite]

I imagine some of it was his humility. He had to know they were going to heap praise upon him. That's embarrassing for some.

[@cherylbean521]

Great movie

[@rogerwilco4397]

No Way Out, The Defiant Ones, Lillies of the Field, Pressure Point, In the Heat of the Night... all racially charged, excellent Poitier films.

[@Lee-Darin]

Sidney Poitier should have been up on the Stage with them since he was the Star of In The Heat of The Night

[@powysdewhurst]

I'm afraid he was ill at the time and had memory issues. It's safer for him to stay in the audience as it could be humiliating for him.

[@BLTKellys]

Lee is like 94 years old!!

[@carlosarturosanchezbarcelo9778]

And you think that's something?? Walter is 99 years old today!!!

[@BayareaGuy06]

@@carlosarturosanchezbarcelo9778 He's now 100!!!!!!!!!

[@charleswinokoor6023]

To describe Steiger’s character as simply “a racist” is absurd. Anyone who has spent time with this movie should understand that he portrayed a complex and ultimately admirable individual. I’m very disappointed that the otherwise knowledgeable host resorted to such a simplistic characterization.

[@junior2404]

But, the character was racist. The only thing "ultimately admirable" was Steiger's performance. I'm intrigued by your perspective of the character being a "complex... individual". Care to explain?

[@KutWrite]

@@junior2404 I can jump in here: The Chief knew right and wrong. He'd been brought up with racism, but it conflicted with his inner morality. I think that's why he's a loner. He doesn't identify with the others in the town. He knows he's Top Dog, but must answer to the political boys like William Schallert's character. He has to get along with the town bullies, but looks down on them (the "other" slap scene when the three guys corner Tibbs in the machine shop). At the end, he shows his respect and admiration for Tibbs as much as he can. That shows he's fully realized the missing piece of his moral puzzle. I think that's the "admirable" part @junior2404 meant. I could go on, but that's the outline.

[@4orrcountry]

​@@junior2404 The character BEGAN the movie as a racist and then EVOLVED throughout the movie as he became more enlightened due to his many interactions with Mr. Tibbs.

[@i.i.3399]

This host response “ AGREED “. Sidney Poitier made all three great movies in 1967 the response should have been “ GENIUS “…

[@KutWrite]

I agree, except for the formulaic and cloying "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner." Ugh.

[@jagannathprasad7778]

Walter and Norman taken lots risk during filming that movie, like slapping a color person to a. White plantation owner in deep south Mississippi US , best movie I have seen ever, marvelous work done,

[@OttoByOgraffey]

Cool to see, but Jewison has his scenes he's describing all backwards.

[@powysdewhurst]

True. Those were two or three separate scenes combined into one. It's ok. It happens.

[@HaroldWright_09]

Why the hell wasn't Sidney up there with them?!

[@robertbrawley5048]

Is that the camera man clapping ? Camera woman.. my bad Can we get on with the show?. I haven't got all day, you know.

[@KutWrite]

Seemed to be the weak link of this production.

[@KutWrite]

TCM: One of Ted Turner's few beneficial creations. Thanks for doing this and sharing it.

[@4orrcountry]

Along with CNN, TBS and his devotion to the legendary Jacques Cousteau.

[@sandrashevey8252]

OK. So at one time there were about ten percent female presenters and film critics. Now there are none. What is worse, dudes like this casual reference gender in film iconic moments ie `the slap` from `Mildred Pierce` and pass it off as theirs. Seminal feminist film historians like I have to sit there and watch! It is so so degrading, so disgusting!!!

[@KutWrite]

"Like I?" Come on.