They Call Me Mister Tibbs!

"The last time Virgil Tibbs had a day like this was "In the Heat of the Night""

1970 1h 48m EN

😐

5.9

MID

★5.9TMDB · 106

DramaActionThrillerCrimeMystery

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A police detective's investigation of a prostitute's murder points to his best friend.

“The last time Virgil Tibbs had a day like this was "In the Heat of the Night"”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

ScreenPix Apple TV channelSubscription

ScreenPix Amazon Channel Subscription

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

YouTubeRent

Fandango At HomeRent

Apple TV StoreBuy

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Sidney Poitier
Virgil Tibbs
Martin Landau
Logan Sharpe
Barbara McNair
Valerie Tibbs
Anthony Zerbe
Rice Weedon
Ed Asner
Woody Garfield
Jeff Corey
Captain Marden
Norma Crane
Marge Garfield
Juano Hernández
Mealie Williamson

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gordon Douglas
Writers: Alan Trustman, James R. Webb
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

56 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Part of the "Virgil Tibbs Trilogy" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Directed by Gordon Douglas, shot by Gerald Perry Finnerman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Quincy Jones. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Bud Molin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Sidney Poitier and Martin Landau and Barbara McNair carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "The last time Virgil Tibbs had a day like this was "In the Heat of the Night"".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0066450 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gordon Douglas directs. Gerald Perry Finnerman behind the camera. Quincy Jones scores. Bud Molin cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

156 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Virgil Tibbs Trilogy" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Gordon Douglas, shot by Gerald Perry Finnerman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Quincy Jones. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Bud Molin shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Sidney Poitier and Martin Landau and Barbara McNair carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "The last time Virgil Tibbs had a day like this was "In the Heat of the Night"".
8IMDB entry: tt0066450 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Gerald Perry Finnerman
Original score: Quincy Jones
Editing: Bud Molin
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)

Part of

Virgil Tibbs Trilogy

In the Heat of the Night is a 1967 American mystery drama film directed by Norman Jewison. It is based on John Ball's 1965 novel of the same name and tells the story of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective from Philadelphia, who becomes involved in a murder investigation in a small town in Mississippi. It stars Sidney Poitier. The film was followed by two sequels also starring Poitier, They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971). It was also the basis of a 1988 television series adaptation of the same name.

Also by

Gordon Douglas

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

GenerationofSwine2023-01-11
★ 1/10
Wait... he's in Frisco now? How did that happen and where did his family come from and... you know what, forget about it, I'm pretty sure that this was a completely different movie and they just changed the character to Tibbs to ride on the coat tails of In the Heat of the Night... ... because this movie stank. It's pretty much a mindless exploitation cop flick with the lead character, in name only, from a gripping and dramatic mystery rife with social commentary. Walk away, walk away fast and if you ever get a time machine, go back and beg Sydney not to make this.
CinemaSerf2023-06-03
★ 6/10
If this were to be taken out of the context of a sequel to "In the Heat of the Night" then it might have made for a decent enough American cop drama. However, Sidney Poitier's attempt to reprise his character from that earlier film rather falls flat. An expensive hooker is found murdered and "Mr. Tibbs" is called in to investigate. He still faces the racial/social stereotypes and prejudices from his colleagues as he tries to get to the bottom of the crime as well as a few family issues. Martin Landau is quite spooky as the dodgy priest "Logan Sharpe" but the relocation to San Francisco and the much more sterile delivery leaves this wallowing in a mire of mediocrity that renders it pretty run-of-the-mill with little to recommend it. Anthony Zerbe & Ed Asner crop up now and again to try and help it out, but sadly you'll have seen this kind of thriller many times before and since...