11/7/06: They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! (1970)This sequel to 1967’s
In The Heat of the Night is generally forgotten, since Sidney Poitier’s character is too straight-laced to count as a blaxploitation hero. But methodical homicide detective Virgil Tibbs was also the most realistic black (or white) hero of the ’60s or ’70s. Tibbs is a San Francisco family man who isn’t pleased with all this social change. He worries that he doesn’t spend enough time at home, and that his little boy is an aspiring hippie who won’t respect authority.
Logan Sharpe—played by Martin Landau—is a local radical preacher. He’s the major figure behind the upcoming vote for the controversial education initiative Proposition 4. He’s charismatic and reaches out to both the hippies and the rich. The local media adores him.
Tibbs and Sharpe are lifelong friends. When the reverend is seen leaving the apartment of a murdered prostitute, the department assigns Tibbs to the case. The cops hope that Tibbs will get Sharpe off the hook. They don’t want to look like they’re railroading the guy behind Proposition 4. Tibbs discovers that a sleazy pimp played by Anthony Zerbe called the cops on Rev. Sharpe. Zerbe gets killed when the cops come calling, and Tibbs’ relieved superiors decide that the case is closed.
Tibbs isn’t so sure: “The case is never solved until a judge says it is.”
SPOILER: In what must have been a surprise twist at the time, the killer turns out to be the social-activist preacher. This leads to an interesting conversation. It’s the day before the election. Sharpe is saying he doesn’t believe in divine guidance as Tibbs walks into his church to make the arrest. Sharpe asks Tibbs to wait until after the election. A pivotal 15 percent of the voters is undecided on Proposition 4. Sharpe will gladly confess later, but he can’t risk having his arrest tilt the balance of the vote.
Sharpe pleads with Tibbs to think of the people who worked so hard for Proposition 4: “What difference would 24 hours make?”
“I know you did it. That’s the difference.”
Tibbs doesn’t care about polls and personal politics. He cares about right and wrong. That’s in his character. Sharpe isn’t a man of character. He can’t live with the idea of an informed public. Instead, he steps in front of a truck as Tibbs is taking him to the stationhouse.
No great loss—but no confession, either. At the hospital, Sharpe is DOA. The reporters ask if Sharpe was in custody at the time. Tibbs says yes. They want to know if the case is considered solved. Tibbs has his standard reply: “The case is never solved until a judge…”
This time, Tibbs leaves the sentence hanging. He’s distracted by the sight of his wife and kids. The media has to figure out things for themselves. Tibbs goes over to his loving family, which is the true reward for a man of any character. The audience never finds out what becomes of Proposition 4. And, honestly, who cares? Tibbs’ own children will be raised right.
Make it your own: The movie’s available
on DVD, but maybe we’ll get a deluxe edition by 2008. Also, it turns out there’s an actual Proposition 4 this year, and
Tibbs is still in on the action.
