In the Heat of the Night (1967)
- Information at Internet Movie Database
- Themes
- Authority
- The Sheriff has visible authority granted to him by
his office. Mr. Tibbs ( Sidney Portier) has to earn the authority he
rightly claims as a man with a badge - the authority is denied him
by virtue of his color. He has to prove his integrity to be
respected by the townspeople. This reminds us that we can imbue
bigots (the Sheriff) with authority they don't deserve ( read the
Pharisees and scribes) and yet deny to those who deserve it but are
different ( Jesus??) (submitted by Marie Loewen)
- The Sheriff has visible authority granted to him by
his office. Mr. Tibbs ( Sidney Portier) has to earn the authority he
rightly claims as a man with a badge - the authority is denied him
by virtue of his color. He has to prove his integrity to be
respected by the townspeople. This reminds us that we can imbue
bigots (the Sheriff) with authority they don't deserve ( read the
Pharisees and scribes) and yet deny to those who deserve it but are
different ( Jesus??) (submitted by Marie Loewen)
- Authority