The 1967 movie directed by Norman Jewison stars Sidney Poitier as a police officer named Virgil Tibbs from Philadelphia who, while traveling in Mississippi, is picked up by the police for questioning about a murder because of his race. After he is cleared of suspicion, his chief from Philadelphia asks him to stay and assist with the murder investigation.
The film is the origin of the oft-quoted line "They call me Mr. Tibbs," which is said angrily by Virgil when a racist police chief (played by Rod Steiger) asks him what they call him in Philadelphia.
Actor Harry Dean Stanton of such films as "Alien" and "Escape from New York" has an early role in the movie as a policeman.
