Film Forum

(1967, Norman Jewison) A mysterious murder, and gum-chomping Mississippi sheriff Rod Steiger (Oscar, Best Actor, and 263 packs of gum) has got the just the right prime suspect, that… black man who just got off the train – wait a minute, he’s really Philly police detective Sidney Poitier?! Among the highlights, Poitier’s return slap to Larry Gates, Steiger’s grab-fap-grab to a would be Poitier hunter, and his wondering “You just like us.” Also Oscars for Best Picture, adapted screenplay, sound and editing. A new 50th anniversary edition of John Ball’s original 1965 is now out from Penguin Classics (available at our concession today). DCP.

Reviews

“Fast and enjoyable… Poitier’s like a black Sherlock Holmes in a Tom-and-Jerry cartoon of reversals. For once it’s funny (rather than embarrassing) that he’s superior to everybody else.”
– Pauline Kael