Roger Griffith discusses why Sir Sidney Poitier is one of his all time heroes.

For so many reasons In The Heat of the Night has given me both inspiration and infuriation. Sir Sidney Poitier’s performance as the police detective Virgil Tibbs is one of the great cinematic portrayals that has echoes beyond the boundaries of the silver screen. Growing up Poitier became a hero of mine with his suave, intelligent charm and a smile that could turn into a steely piercing glare at the hint of trouble. But most of all he was a man comfortable with his own skin, even if others were not.

In the film, whilst visiting his mother, Poitier tries to assist the local Mississippi police force in a murder case. Instead of thanks and gratitude Poitier gets racially abused. When he asserts his humanness, with the classic line 'They call me Mr Tibbs!', he gets himself thrown out of town only to be recalled by the Mayor who needs his expertise to solve a high-profile case much to the Chief of Police’s disgust (played by Rod Steiger on Oscar® winning bigot conversion form). Poitier’s simmering rage at his treatment is a timeless reminder of the difficulties of a black man in a prominent position walking a tightrope between maintaining his dignity and controlling his anger in the face of constant abuse. Today this can be seen in Obama’s presidency. The seminal slap scene in the movie caused controversy for white director Norman Jewison whose work has also been inspired by visits to the Deep-South of America.

As a film bonus-extra please make sure you check-out the look the Black butler gives his boss after Poitier walks out. It is priceless!

It is however worth remembering for all these cinematic stands against racism that Dr Martin Luther King was killed less than a year after this film opened in bordering Tennessee. This was during the racially charged and turbulent 1960s in the Deep-South that has also given us many great films based on real events including Mississippi Burning (1988), 12 Years a Slave (2013) and Selma (2014) all packed with British talent on and off screen.

All of these movie magical historical interpretations gave me inspiration to visit and write about the Deep-South in my book My American Odyssey: From the Windrush to the White House. Thankfully my visits to all three of the locations in those movies, though painful have passed off peacefully and were punctuated only with southern charm. Yet I am fully aware of the privilege my British accent affords me.

1967 was an amazing year for the Bahamian. Poitier had already secured an Oscar® for chaperoning Nuns in the feel-good if bland, Lilies in the Field (1963) and came to London to film To Sir With Love which he then followed up with Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, a tale of interracial dating. All of these themes, how a black man is perceived in high-profile roles, inter-racial dating and the education of the white working class are sadly still relevant today showing he was and is a man of his times. He enjoys revered respect in Britain, was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship and lifetime achievement award this year to go with his BAFTA for his role in this film, decades before the #oscarssowhite controversy.

To Sir Sidney - With our Love.

The 17:50 screening of In the Heat of the Night on Fri 18 Nov will include an introduction by Roger Griffith.

Roger will also be joining the Deaf Conversations about Cinema post-screening event on Mon 21 Nov. From 20:10, join Roger and the rest of the audience from the 18:10 screening of In the Heat of the Night for an informal discussion about the themes of the film in the Café/Bar. You’ll receive 10% off drinks with your cinema ticket – so grab a glass and let us know your thoughts about In The Heat of the Night.