Movies Better Than Sex

Norman Jewison’s crime thriller "The Heat of the Night" is an extremely well directed and acted film picked up five Oscars, including best actor for Rod Steiger. The scenes shot on location in Sparta, Illinois.  In the small town of Sparta, Tibbs, a black detective, is arrested when a white man is found dead. Ths small town of Mississippi features a police department led by Chief Gillespie (Rod Steiger), a man slow to adapt to the changing times who is clearly outmatched by Tibbs. After Tibbs identity is revealed, the pair act out an odd couple partnership as they work to solve the crime, and in the process, they learn to form a mutual respect for each other.  Even if Rod Steiger has never been better as the bigoted police chief you don't feel that he and Poitier are trying to surpass each other and the strength of the script and intrigue only adds to the palpable racial tension in the city. In my opinion the film gives a strong punch to stereotypes and provoc...