Wolff rating: EXCELLENT
Plot summary: Murder mystery with northern black homicide investigator dealing with southern redneck sheriff.
Biased, pithy comments: Made at one of the most brightly-burning moments in the civil rights struggle, Jewison's masterpiece is a decent police procedural overlayed with two men coming to learn about one another and their prejudices. The South has never looked more venal, poor, and mean, in some ways, but the movie still gives some remote hope it will be better. Steiger and Poitier give great performances; Poitier can actually bulge with fury, which is neat. Soundtrack by Quincy Jones is excellent. Perhaps the only flaw is the ending, which is a little quick and requires a quick, ``What was that, again?'' as you shuffle out of the theater.
Other Notes: Won five Oscars and followed by a better and worse collection of TV movies and a TV show. Jewison goes on to make an amazing collection of duds interspersed with hits.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates, Lee Grant, Larry Gates.
Directed by: Norman Jewison