Shandor reacts to IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT (1967) - FIRST TIME WATCHING!!!

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

The raw power of the two leads and the camera together light the screen on fire. Reaches an extremely rare level even among classics.

[@scv1981]

Great reaction. Bravo! I grew up in this era and watched this movie in South Georgia

[@Alan_CFA]

The Academy Awards awarded the best actor Oscar to Rod Steiger and In the Heat of the Night won best picture. In Steiger’s acceptance speech he thanked Sidney Poitier for helping him to better understand racism. I was 13 back then and I’m doing this from memory, but I’ll bet the acceptance speech is somewhere on KZbin.

[@davidpost428]

Good job in edting this film down while making your commentary throughout. One of the great films ever made. Thank you for reacting to it.

[@ladystrange45]

Lee Grant, the woman in this movie is a Great Actress!

[@alaricabercrombie2692]

ABSOLUTELY!!! 👏👏👏

[@hannejeppesen1809]

One of my favorite movies. Saw it when it came out. Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier were both amazing in their roles. Their acting is outstanding.

[@barblessable]

LEE Grant and Warren Oates were great too .

[@gordondafoe3516]

Thank you Shandor. This is a treasure of a film. The racism is tough, but the acting, direction and filmography are off the charts. As you noticed, the chemistry of Steiger and Poitier is mind blowing. Well done Sir!

[@philpaine3068]

I live in Toronto, Canada, where the director Norman Jewison was born and still lives today (age 97). There is a small city park named after him just a few blocks from where I live. Jewison directed and produced a great variety of films over the years, some in Canada and some in the U.S., but each one was finely crafted. He also produced a considerable amount of television, including a series I loved called The Rez, that was set in a Canadian First Nations community that perfectly caught its atmosphere. He was awarded the Order of Canada, and founded the Canadian Centre For Advanced Film Studies, an institution which trained many of the people who turned Toronto into a major centre of film production.

[@Alvin-1138]

RollerBall!!

[@user4923]

Thanks for your great comments.

[@jazzyd312]

Beah Richards, Mama Caleba in this movie, played Sidney Poitier's mom in "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner".

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

I was a 17 year old high school student when I first saw this film back in 1967. Your very keen insights and observations made this very enjoyable. As a former actor, I tip my cap to you..

[@shandoratthecinema4098]

Wow, thanks a lot!

[@tracyfrazier7440]

For a gripping drama, from the play, watch Sidney Poitier in, A Raisin in the Sun. It will give you the perspective of a black family man in Chicago around the same time period.

[@shandoratthecinema4098]

I'll put it on my list!

[@Pamtroy]

The woman playing Mrs. Colbert was an actress who for years could not find work because she was blacklisted during the red scare.

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

Interesting trivia: 1. Rod Steiger chewed 263 packs of gum during filming. 2. It was filmed mostly in Illinois, during cooler months, so actors had to put ice chips in their mouths before takes so their cold breaths wouldn't show up on camera during night scenes.

[@laurab68707]

This movie won the academy awards for Best Actor- Rod Steiger, Best Picture, Best writing and Best film editing,. Great movie!

[@Kunsoo1024]

Yeah. Quincy Jones ought to have won for the best score, but I think the winning score was for Born Free - a great score, but nothing like this one!

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

You forgot one - Best Sound as well.

[@Roger-bi1zm]

Wonderful reaction! I'm American and saw this great movie when It was it released. I was 20.

[@garryhall9519]

This movie won 7 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (Rod Steiger). Quentin Dean (Dolores Purdy), Lee Grant (Mrs. Colbert) and Sidney Poitier received nominations.

[@paulhorgan6152]

Good for you mate 🇬🇧

[@hertelantje]

I just watched your reaction to one of the master pieces of cinematography. I like it and the movies you have selected for reaction in your catalogue is impressive. So I subscribed and am looking forward to see more.

[@shandoratthecinema4098]

Thank you!

[@patrickdrazen2031]

I got my Masters in Speech at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the location shooting was largely done in the nearby town of Sparta, Illinois... didn't even change the name. This was a classic when it was made and it's still a classic!

[@AS-gh1yk]

It took an outsider (Canadian director Norman Jewison) to make a movie like this. It would be difficult for an American director to give it the same sensitivities.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

You need to give the role Rod Steiger is playing some slack, he is a lot more complex than first thought.

[@UncleCharlie111x2]

The movie makes you feels exactly the way the intended you too! Great movie!

[@WithTwoFlakes]

9:45 Mmmm, I always read this scene as Chief Gillespie being smart enough to know how to play him. Unlike other scenes where his short fuse causes him to explode at Virgil, this time he ambles up equipped with a backup plan for when the simple "please stay" doesn't work. Whilst Gillespie clearly isn't any sort of criminal expert, his ability to read people has served him well enough for the challenges of being a cop in a small town. His own character development allows him to slowly realise that this is a 'once in every twenty years' case where 'round up the usual suspects' won't work. He is out of his depth and he knows it, but is faithful to the job. So he struggles against his background and upbringing to do what he has to do to get Virgil's help.

[@Divamarja_CA]

Lee Grant, the actor playing the widow of the murder vic, was subjected to the Hollywood Blacklist, and lost about 11 prime “actress” years as a result. She got TV roles, but movies eluded her. Her role here was a bit of a comeback. She’s wonderful and very smart; eventually got into directing too.

[@severance1961]

You should watch "To Sir With Love". Another great Sidney Poitier movie that you may really like. It is about a black teacher trying to be accepted in a school with mainly white students in the 1960's in England. Btw, I like that you enjoy older movies.

[@laurakali6522]

And A Patch of Blue.

[@browniewin4121]

This movie was ground breaking. An excellent story, excellent cast, makes for an excellent movie.

[@perrymalcolm3802]

Shandor, the sad fact is all those old films looked pristine once upon a time. While may hv been restored or remastered, this is what it looked like new

[@dandyfluff]

Believe me, even as an “insider” (American) it is devastating and infuriating that racism (and prejudice in general) is still so prevalent in this country. I love my home, but we could do so much better by each other. Makes me sick that we haven’t figured out how to embrace each other as fellow humans, fellow Earthlings, and let that be the end of the conversation. Thanks for the reaction. This is a fantastic movie, glad you enjoyed it.

[@et2petty]

Yes. But let's not forget how much better it is now than when I was small. I was 7 and went with a school friend downtown to a parade, on the bus with my friend's house keeper Georgia. We stopped at the diner at Foley's big dept. store downtown. We had to leave and go to another store named Gibson's. It wasn't till I was older that I realized that because of Georgia's race, we had to leave the lunch counter.

[@dandyfluff]

@@et2petty Agree, things are better than they were. But I think it’s easy to fall into the trap of complacency. We tend to focus on the “better” part of “better than.” But when there’s still hate and distrust aimed at a portion of the population based solely on their race, it still needs attention and conversation. We won’t ever fully fix it, no. There will always be bigots. But thinking how much “better than” we could be 60 years from now-that won’t happen if we settle for being “better” now than before and quit the conversation. I mean, when we ended slavery but put Jim Crow in place, I’m sure people said, “Hey, it’s better than the 1850s. Let’s move on.” (Not saying that’s what you’re doing. I get your point. I just think we should keep trying because where we are may be “better than” but that isn't good enough.)

[@tomdowling638]

What country are you living in? is it the Gaza strip.

[@jtt6650]

The unlikely friendship that develops between Gillespie and Tibbs is one of the great hallmarks of this film. While Tibbs solves the murder, Gillespie protects Tibbs life at great risk to himself and his standing in this backward community. At the end, you see the mutual respect they have for each other.

[@williamquinlan6153]

The setting was the southern United States during the struggle for civil rights in the 60s. Racial strife and prejudice made things very uncomfortable.

[@flarrfan]

Highly recommend Poitier's Oscar role in the delightful movie Lilies of the Field. There is also Rod Steiger's should-have-been-Oscar performance in The Pawnbroker. As far as the racism in this movie, it was typical of the American South during the civil rights movement of the '60s...

[@lukenshazard127]

Several of the movies Sidney Poitier was in attacked racism including In the Heat of the Night, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and I think To Sir With Love. There will always be inflamed hemorrhoids that deal with others solely on race, but these movies did a lot to take down racism, at least in my opinion and I’m an old fart that grew up in that era. Great reaction Shandor!

[@richardcramer1604]

I agree, I grew up on Sidney Poitier movies, some of the best anti-racist movies made. You left a few out though "Lilies of the Field", "The Defiant Ones" and to a lesser extent "Blackboard Jungle". I also disagree with Shandor, the racism in America is no way near the levels of the 1960s or before regardless of what you hear from the Democrats who only want to stir up racial division to garner votes.

[@mothermayhem3255]

@@richardcramer1604 You are not wrong with your assessment of the 60's. These movies should be at the top of reactors list. They show the true history of racisim in those times.

[@albertjimeno5315]

@richardcramer1604 You forgot “A Patch of Blue” from 1965.

[@et2petty]

Rod Stieger won the Oscar for this role

[@dwill123]

Rod Stieger was not the original actor offered the Gillespie roll. The original offer went to George C. Scott (Patton) who turned it down for other reasons.

[@leftcoaster67]

Movie was released the year I was born. We read the novel based on the movie in my Junior High School. But it is nothing compared Sidney and Rod. Brilliance.

[@EricAKATheBelgianGuy]

In the Heat of the Night was nominated for 7 Oscars in 1967: Best Picture (*won*) Best Director - Norman Jewison Best Actor - Rod Steiger as Bill Gillespie (*won*) Best Adapted Screenplay - Stirling Silliphant (*won*) Best Film Editing - Hal Ashby (*won*) - Ashby later became a successful director himself, receiving a directing nomination for 1978's "Coming Home" Best Sound Effects Best Sound Mixing (*won*) 1967 was an incredible year for film; not only did 1967 give us In the Heat of the Night, but there was Bonnie and Clyde, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Graduate, Cool Hand Luke, The Dirty Dozen, Wait Until Dark, and many others.

[@jamesalexander5623]

Virgil Tibbs was the first Black Superhero!

[@christpower5402]

This is real filmmaking and acting.

[@im-gi2pg]

I love Sidney Poitier in “Lillies of the Valley” and “A Patch of Blue” with Shelley winters as the mother (there’s a glimpse of my dad’s coffee shop “Biffs” at 7th and Alvarado). “To Sir with Love” was also a big hit for him. I read his autobiography A+! And Shelley Winters autobiography A+! Awesome actors!

[@brettv5967]

Love this movie. Rod Steiger is sooo intense. And Poitier is able to convey so much emotion without dialogue. They are great together. In a similar vein to this, I wonder whether you’ve seen To Kill a Mockingbird. If not, you really should.

[@2011littlejohn1]

This movie probably helped change the law in the US. Ray Charles - you should watch his bio Ray; the acting is amazing and the research was in-depth, (I'm so old I remember things like which colour jackets he wore on tour). You mentioned some technical things and that reminded me of The Third Man - to my layman's eyes that had some incredible photography - use of shadow and contrast. I'm so pleased you liked this movie. I always think that age is not a factor - if something's good - it's good for ever. I've loved movies since I was a kid and we didn't have a tv. The first film which gave me an important message was High Noon starring Gary Cooper - the end scene made me think. Outstanding Rod Steiger films are The Pawnbroker and No Way To Treat A Lady because the characters are so different and show case his abilities. His parts ranged from Napoleon to a thug in the musical Oaklehoma, to opposite Marlon Brando in On The Waterfront. I once say him interviewed on British tv by Barry Norman a well known film critic and he said ''You are probably the finest character actor in films today.'' Rod Steiger burst into tears.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

The warehouse scene is one of the best scenes in any movies.

[@victorcowboywest]

In this movie there's the slap that 'shock the world.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

Scott Wilson was also great in this movie. He went on to play Dick Hickock one of the murderes in another great movie "In Cold Blood".

[@jazzyd312]

He was also Dr. Hershel Greene in "The Walking Dead."

[@Alvin-1138]

Excellent actor!! Last? movie role "Hostiles" and I discovered him in "The Ninth Configuration "

[@Alvin-1138]

Love your commentary and humor, and insights.

[@selkirk57]

Good reaction. Another movie with a similar theme and from the same time period is 1962's 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. Gregory Peck at his finest. He would get the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance.

[@subitman]

I am enjoying your reaction while just about 1/4 way through it. I am a Chinese immigrant from Saigon after the Vietnam War. The Vietnamese started arresting Chinese due to fear of spies. It's a long story with ten months in a refugee camp in Malaysia. My family also experienced racism because we were sponsored by a church in a rural town in southern USA. I grew up being bullied by two boys who would even pulled my shorts down in gym. One time, one of them stepped on the back of my foot as we were walking down the stairs. I turned around and punched the bigger one repeatedly until the coach pulled me off. I had to write an essay about it as punishment. The school didn't do any further because the coach knew of the racism and did nothing. The bullies left me alone after that because my friends would stand up for me without me saying a word.

[@shandoratthecinema4098]

Thank you for your story! I'm glad the bullying had stopped.

[@arrow1414]

This was made after the Hayes code collapsed so they could be a lot freer in story telling. The Northern United States was and still has-it own level of racism-but the Southern states were off the charts in comparison "Negro" was the accepted term back then. It came into fashion into the 1920s during the Harlem Renaissance in preference over "Colored". Of course the prefered term by the early 1970s was "Black" or "Afro-American" but by the late 1980s it is the current preferred term "African-American". I don't know what country you are in but your country can have a significant amount of racism too. It's everywhere.

[@raymeedc]

Multi Oscar Winner “On The Waterfront” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”, the film that made Marlon Brando & Method Acting stars.

[@richardowen2087]

I saw this in 1967 in southern Virginia. I knew some of those characters. Things have changed but the racism is alive and well, even in the Whitehouse now.

[@mildredpierce4506]

I think you’re the only person that has reacted to this movie. I have suggested it to other reactors but none of them have bothered to look at it.

[@Kunsoo1024]

This movie is, IMO, one of the best Hollywood movies ever made. It was made on the tail end of the Civil Rights era as we were making a few (though not enough) positive changes. It was still dangerous to film something like this in the south, so most of it was filmed in California and, I think, Illinois. Many theaters in the south refused to air it, mostly because of "the slap." The actor who played Endicott refused to have a stunt double or have the slap be fake - both slaps were as hard as it looked - and they wanted it to be "real." These actors were nothing like their characters in real life. The guy who played the first suspect did such an impressive job that Poitier recommended him for another movie which really made the break for him. I don't remember which movie or any other details. I'm kind of well-versed in McCarthyism and the 1950s attack on Hollywood looking for agents and spies or whatever. Lee Grant who plays the widow had been in a romantic relationship with someone on the Hollywood blacklist and they split up. FBI agents sought to take advantage of the situation by approaching her to see if she would be willing to testify or at least give them dirt on him. She basically told them to f--- off and found herself blacklisted. She was able to score some minor television gigs in the early 60s, but ITHOTN was her first major film in over 12 years. As so many actors and actresses did, she channeled her anger into her role and was amazing in the two scenes. Sydney Poitier wasn't just a great actor, but in building his name up he agreed to play in movies of high quality - he was very selective about the scripts he would respond to. There are so many good movies, but one of my favorites after this one is entitled "The Defiant Ones" (it was supposed to be named "The Chain" but some idiot in the producing company changed it). It features Poitier and Tony Curtiss playing convicts who escape prison chained to each other and thus have to get over their racial animosity to survive together. Rod Steiger was such a versatile actor. The point of this movie is about the complexity and insidious nature of racism such that it can infect even the best of people when they're steeped in racist culture. But several characters were able to transcend it for their own reasons - Gillespie because he believes in his job (it's the only thing he has); the young woman's brother in listening to Tibbs showed that he loved his sister more than he hated black people; and the first suspect having the best of him brought out by an alliance with Tibbs. It's about the nuances. This could have typecast Steiger - who had to work hard to make a deeply racist character sympathetic. If you want to see him in a completely different character, watch The Chosen, where he plays an Hassidic Jewish Rabbi, and plays it marvelously. I didn't even recognize him behind the beard at first. Some other movies you might add to your list: Missing (about Americans caught up in the Chilean coup, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissie Spacek); Priest (1990s British film about a young Catholic Priest who is very conservative, struggling with his homosexuality); and any John Sayles film - start with Lone Star State (murder mystery set in Texas at the border), but also watch Eight Men Out (about the Chicago Blacksox who were bribed by gambling people to throw a world series - true story); The Brother from Another Planet (Joe Morgan does excellent as a mute alien who is black facing racism on Earth as well as from his home planet); City of Hope (a very complex film about urban East Coast politics); and the Secret of Roan Innish (filmed in Ireland with a mystical theme related to silkies - Irish mermaids of a sort). Oh, and Kiss of the Spider Woman! It was Raul Julia's big break in the U.S., and when I saw it I fell in love with Sonia Braga. But William Hurt plays what I think was originally seen as a gay man, but when I saw it again I think the whole idea is that he played the part of a transwoman, before we even had that term - incredible performances all the way around). I would love to see your reaction to all of these movies, assuming you haven't seen them.

[@elvencieprior6968]

In the Heat of the Night is the first film that feature a black man hitting a white man.

[@jamesalexander5623]

And getting away with it!

[@raymeedc]

Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart, worth a look see, most memorable quotes from any film in cinematic history, and at or near the top of most folk’s favorite lists.

[@shandoratthecinema4098]

I've thinking about watching Casablanca... I'll have to do it soon, i guess!

[@raymeedc]

I’d like to recommend a couple of fine film classics you might enjoy, the first being the 1960 Oscar winner for Best Picture, Direction, Writing, Screenplay, etc., Billy Wilder’s The Apartment, also John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, & Birn Tesyerday with the inimitable Judy Holiday. At 72, I’ve got a lot more in mind, but these should hold your interest in the meantime if you’re of a mind to give any of them a try

[@raymeedc]

That’s “Born Yesterday”

[@angelagraves865]

I love The Apartment.

[@WarrenFahyAuthor]

Not NEARLY like this anymore. Great movie.

[@GlennWH26]

Some people might be wondering why Steiger won Best Actor while Poitier didn't even get nominated. It wasn't because of prejudice. It's because 1967 was the year Sidney Poitier was so good that he screwed himself. That year, Poitier got the most nominating votes for Best Actor. But they were split between Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, In the Heat of the Night, and To Sir, With Love. So in the final tally, he was 6, 7, and 9 on the list. And only the top five nominees make it to the final round of voting.

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

I have never had any problems with Rod Steiger winning an Oscar for his outstanding performance.!

[@GlennWH26]

@@PapaEli-pz8ff It's not Steiger winning, but Poitier not even being nominated, that demanded an explanation.

[@grimreaper-qh2zn]

The actress playing the Abortionist also played Sidney Poitier's mother in "Guess Whose Coming To Dinner"

[@dansdiscourse4957]

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, you might be amused that the actor playing Harvey, Scott Wilson, grew up to play Herschel.

[@christpower5402]

The only thing though is this. Its better on vhs. Digital doesn’t quite do it.

[@BlueShadow777]

Do we have to constantly hear "racism", "racist", "racist bastards" all the way through? I'm sick of the expression! The film depicts a particular period in history. We all know what that period represents, we all know it was bad. Accept the film for the classic it is!

[@paulhorgan6152]

If you haven't watched this film highly recommended 12 angry men❤😊

[@stirbjoernwesterhever6223]

Negro-Officer was not insulting in that time, but a neutral way to call a African American especially in the south, because the term African American wasn't widley used back then.

[@albertjimeno5315]

The insight is very accurate except I’d advise you to look into the difference between the US North and South up through the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Why a Philadelphia detective was treated this way in Mississippi. And it’s a mistake to think that the level of overt racism on display in the South in 1967 can compare to anywhere in the US in 2024.

[@Pamtroy]

A belated comment -- if you think chewing gum is disgusting, you've plainly never been around someone chewing tobacco, which is what a southern cop at that time would be more likely have in his mouth.

[@danielstartek9729]

Hey Sandork where you at?

[@Pamtroy]

The term "negro" was not considered offensive in 1968.

[@peterengelen2794]

The word '''Negro'' during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s is not as insulting as the ''N-Word'', and it actually means ''Black''.

[@robsambosky6444]

GREETINGS EARTH GUY: Through DNA testing I found out I carry the gene that makes chewing sound annoying.

[@carlahorton9577]

JIM CROW ERA...

[@jefferyshute6641]

Plantation mentality. "We have to take care of them..." And make them dependent on the people that control the plantation. ...and provide votes. It's a sad holderover from the era of slavery in America, everywhere, especially in the south.

[@ReallyGoodName3000]

You might want to try titling your video Hungarian reacts to blah blah blah. Male reactors have a particularly hard time and that is what is unique about your perspective.

[@mikematusek4233]

Racist yes, but that was life in the deep south through to about the early 70's.

[@chipurBillWhite]

Relax on “racist.” You’ve said it 90 times. Yes, they are. It was the south in the 60s. Move on.

[@meyerhave]

Please, Shandor, try to get out of your head the notion - that it is exceptional, a big surprise - that black and white or color movies from over the past motion picture history, going back over 100 hundred years ago, with films from around the world, and in many cases their still remaining in pristine state for viewing, when you express this ignorant observation, that they remain in 2023 looking as good when first screened in movie theaters upon the year of their release. That you are surprised by how good "IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT" (1967 - hardly long ago) looks , and remain mystified throughout your "reaction" comments that this HOLLYWOOD movie could look this good; that is quite discouraging. Pristine b&w / color movie prints exist to this day from 100 years ago, Wake up, and do your history

[@davidhowington7306]

You should watch the sting

[@freddieNyack]

racist, racist, racist we all a happy racist. racist in the morning racist at night racist and we fill our pants racism race racist. I'll write a song about racist. let's watch a movie and fill our shorts over a racist remark. sing a song of racism.