I was excited when I heard we were watching a murder mystery in class, as these are some of my favorite movies. However there is much more to this movie than just the thrill of a murder mystery, this movie takes us through the Jim Crow era. Where people believed in a separate but equal society. Throughout the film there is a constant uncomfortable feeling of racism, which we see change and diminish throughout the movie as Tibbs proves himself as a detective.
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| Jim Crow Era |
The film follows Virgil Tibbs, a Black homicide detective from Philadelphia who gets caught up in a murder investigation in a small Mississippi town. What starts as a simple case of mistaken identity when the local cops arrest him at the train station just because he's Black turns into this incredible story about racism, pride, and unexpected respect. Tibbs is so patient with the cops, he carries himself with pride.
Gillespie, the town chief of police, is openly hostile and prejudiced, but as Tibbs proves his competence as a detective, we see Gillespie’s attitude towards him change. This was a step in the right direction during this time, as people still believed in separate but equal Gillespie respected Tibbs, which was not
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| Tibbs and Gillespie |
common at this time.
Seeing Tibbs and Gillespie’s relationship change through the movie was such a powerful message that needed to be spread during this time period. Tibbs proved that his skin color didn’t change how smart he is, and how kind of a human he was. He was so patient with Gillespie even when he was accusing him of murder, and Tibbs knew it was just because he was black. He helped Gillespie solve the case even after he was racist towards him. Tibbs had to deal with lots of prejudice, not just from Gillespie, but from the other cops, and townspeople.
What struck me most about the film is how it handles racism in such a profound and different way from other films at this time. The discrimination Tibbs faces is seen in every interaction, from the casual slurs to the constant assumptions about his capabilities. This movie doesn't need to spell out the message because it's right there in every uncomfortable moment. Which makes this film feel very real, and genuine to what was actually happening during this time.
I really enjoyed this film, as it takes us through the Jim Crow era in the south, but it doesn’t shove racism in your face. It’s more of an underlying theme in this movie, there is tension in the air always, and an uneasy feeling throughout the whole film. I enjoy watching murder mysteries and even though this was a history film, it was still interesting and there was enough going on at all times throughout the film to keep me engaged.
