MY HIT LIST # 51 (part 2) Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs

 As much as Richard Roundtree as Shaft was a defining character and movie, Sidney Poitier's performance as Virgil Tibbs was a groundbreaking moment in cinema. Great movie with  a great performance from Poitier's co star Rod Stieger, superb soundtrack from Quincy Jones, featuring Ray Charles. Poitier stole the show as Tibbs; dignified, cool,authoritative and not taking any bullshit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LsoG2H_aek

"There was a time when I could have had you shot"

A Scene that somehow encapsulated the changes in civil rights

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOOrtKIYyS0

theme from Ray Charles

The follow up They Call Me Mr Tibbs, was more blaxploitation than indictment of racism, it had it's moments and also led to a so so TV series (without Poitier). The last Hurrah for Virgil Tibbs was the Organization which had a similar plot to the Dirty Harry movie The Enforcer. Throughout these inferior follow ups Poitier's Tibbs retained his cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zklu9zyFlv4

They call me Mr Tibbs