Prompt: “To what extent was I pulled into each movie as a participant rather than as an observer?”
The movies in question are the 1967 film “In the Heat of the Night”, and 1962’s film “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Both are stellar in their own right, and were revolutionary at their respective times of release. I saw To Kill a Mockingbird several times when I was younger, and watching the two movies back to back emphasizes to me how Mockingbird certainly plays for a younger demographic. This makes sense given that Scout plays the narrator, the story is told through the lens of child eyes. For children it sucks them right in, I remember being especially taken by the mystery of the Boo Radley. This lets the kids get interested in the story, while also setting the stage for the intrinsically heartbreaking realities of racial injustice.
As an adult, and as someone who had never seen In the Heat of the Night prior, I was blown away. I came in with no expectations and was immediately captivated and enthralled by Virgil Tibbs’s story. Tibbs is one of the most inspiring, subtle, and well acted characters I’ve seen in awhile. Atticus Finch shares his qualities of integrity, intelligence and a passion for protecting the innocent; but while Finch is a white man defending a falsely accused black man, Tibbs himself is a falsely accused black man whom not only saves himself with his smarts but is also able to solve a murder which left the rest of the police force baffled.
Virgil Tibb’s is an inspiration to me not only because he’s strong, but because he’s also very vulnerable throughout the film. Sidney Poitier depicts him beautifully through his subtle and masterful facial acting. He’s a man in hostile territory, literally seized and accused of murder because of his skin tone. He rescues himself, and proves that he’s got what it takes to outsmart all those who doubted him. By the end of the film these smarts and his constant nobility wins him the respect of those who once looked down on him. The line “They call me Mr Tibbs!” (which I had heard from pop culture but never knew the context) was invigorating during the scene and genuinely gave me goosebumps. While Virgil has been quiet in manner throughout the film, the racism towards him finally piles too high. In a moment of glorious defiance the cops go to insult his name and he states this amazing line. You can feel his anger build up throughout as he is continuously disrespected and belittled, but he’s strong enough to hold it in until he snaps with this line. He tells them his name, and they start listening.
In conclusion both films are grand. I would say To Kill a Mockingbird is a good film to start with. It’ll suck kids in as much as adults, and lay the foundation for understanding complicated injustices. But once those kids grow up show them In the Heat of the Night. They will see the themes and characters from a whole new angle, and if they’re like me they will be entirely wrapped up in Virgil Tibbs’s struggles. I was rooting for this character with more passion and vigor them I’ve felt in some time. I really wanted to see him win the justice and respect he deserved, and I could feel his emotional turmoil throughout the whole film. I could feel that through Atticus Finch as well, the need for justice. But seeing it first person through Tibbs’s eyes put it into an all new perspective for me.
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