Sidney Poitier brings power through dignity. Rod Steiger brings power by being SO ALIVE. What a fantastic movie. Great script, characters, and story. Let's you realize how backwards we were only 30 years ago. The interaction between the straight backed, suit and tie wearing Poitier with the gum chewing, disheveled Steiger was really special (I think Steiger had the gum working in every scene); race and culture clashing and working together. If you really love movies and you haven't seen this one, do yourself a favor and rent it tonight.
Review of In the Heat of the Night
