In the Heat of the Night

How does the film relate to the chapter in Foner?

Foner’s chapter speaks about the rising tides of protest from the black community and the progression in the civil rights movement. The film however, does not portray protests or sit-ins, but it does give prime example of the southern white communities’ attitude toward African Americans. With the way Virgil is automatically arrested for a murder without being questioned or read any rights (which Foner mentions were ruled upon in Miranda v. Arizona 1966), it is easy to see that racism is very prevalent in the setting of this film just as it was in the sixties. It is a shock to the police department in this film when they learn that Virgil is in fact a police officer from the north. This is very similar to the shock that was experienced by racist whites in the sixties when blacks began to protest for equal civil rights.

What can we learn about American culture during the time period by interpreting the film as a primary historical source?

Southern American culture during this time period was not that exciting, however it was extremely racial. With the murder of the head of a company that was going to provide jobs for blacks killed for that reason, and one of the only black men in town producing angry mobs out for his murder, racism is no small subject in this small town of Mississippi. But what we learn from the south being extraordinarily racist, we learn that the north (wherever Virgil happens to come from) is far less caught up in racism. We know this because Virgil is employed as not only a police officer, but the best homicide detective in the area.

What does this film reveal about attitudes towards gender, class, and race?

Again, this film is very racially based. It shows that regardless of the civil rights movement that was going on nationally, people in the south especially were very angry and hateful towards blacks. The mobs that attack Virgil are prime examples of this, as well as the comments that Virgil encounters. When he is in the jail with Harvey, Harvey, before he realizes Virgil is a police officer, asks him why he is wearing “white man’s clothes” which consist of a suit and tie. When Virgil says to the black man who owns the auto shop that lends him a car “I’ll just get a motel”, the black man laughs like this would not be possible and tells him he should stay with him.

What was the most important scene in the film?

The most important part of the movie, without any direct relation to the murder plot, is the very ending where Virgil finally gets on the train to go home. As the sheriff and Virgil approach the train, the sheriff is carrying Virgil’s suitcase. He turns and gives it to Virgil and then shakes his hand. This is miles above the treatment the sheriff first gave Virgil in the beginning of the film, and even throughout the film. Then as soon as Virgil is boarding the train, the sheriff tells him with a smile to make sure he takes care. It is an inspiring moment of the film, because it give hope that racism can eventually learn to be overlooked.