Norman Jewison’s legendary film ‘In the Heat of the Night’ is a classic 1967 mystery drama with a humorous twist. The plot is based on John Ball’s 1965 novel and is set in the tranquil hamlet of Sparta. The film follows Bill Gillespie, a Philadelphia police investigator who becomes embroiled in a murder case in a tiny village. Bill, frustrated and bewildered, must seek assistance from Virgil Tibbs, an experienced officer.
‘In the Heat of the Night’ is a well-known film in its genre and holds a significant place in film history. The music, direction, and supporting actors are all exceptional. Even though the story is set in a small town in Mississippi, you might wonder where the movie was actually filmed. Let’s find out!
Where was “In the Heat of the Night” Filmed?
“In the Heat of the Night” was filmed in Illinois, Tennessee, and California. Filming began on September 26, 1966 and concluded in November 1966. Although the film is set in the little town of Sparta, Mississippi, the majority of the filming took place in Sparta, Illinois.
Haskell Wexler, a well-known cinematographer, worked on the movie. Paul Groesse, who worked on many classic Hollywood films, was the art director. Now, let’s look at the specific filming locations.
Randolph County, Illinois
The majority of the film was shot in Randolph County, Illinois, specifically Sparta and Chester. Sparta exists in various locations across the United States, and the Illinois city served as the Mississippi village in the film.
Almost all of the scenes set in Sparta were shot in Illinois, specifically around North Walnut, West Broadway, and West 2nd streets. The production team also visited Chester, the county seat of Randolph County, for some sequences. The chase scene with Harvey Oberst and the bridge shots were shot in Chester.
St. Clair County, Illinois
The production team also filmed in other locations throughout Illinois. The opening railroad sequence was shot at Freeburg, a community in St. Clair County. They also film in Belleville, the county capital of St. Clair County.
Tennessee
Director Norman Jewison and star Sidney Poitier chose to film a few sequences in Tennessee. They traveled to Dyersburg, a city in Dyer County, northwestern Tennessee. The scenes at Endicott’s house were shot on property in Dyersburg. The cotton field sequences were also filmed in this area, as well as in Union City, Obion County.
Los Angeles, California
While the majority of the exterior scenes were shot in Illinois and Tennessee, the production team traveled to California for the inside scenes. They traveled to Los Angeles, a famous city in southern California, to film a portion of the film. They used Raleigh Studios Hollywood, which is located at 5300 Melrose Avenue East in Los Angeles. This studio has been utilized for numerous iconic films and television shows, including ‘Castle’ and ‘Straight Outta Compton.’
These are the primary filming locations for ‘In the Heat of the Night.’ The film employed a variety of locations to portray the small-town atmosphere of Sparta, Mississippi.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – In the Heat of the Night
Q: Where was “In the Heat of the Night” filmed?
A: In the Heat of the Night” was shot in a number of places, including Randolph and St. Clair counties in Illinois, Dyersburg and Union City in Tennessee, and Los Angeles, California. The majority of the film’s sequences situated in Sparta, Illinois, were shot on location, while inside scenes were produced at Raleigh Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles.
Q: When was “In the Heat of the Night” filmed?
A: The filming of “In the Heat of the Night” began on September 26, 1966, and ended in November 1966. The production took a few months to complete, with scenes shot in numerous places throughout the United States.
Q: Why was Illinois chosen as the principal filming location?
A: Illinois was chosen as the major filming location because it has the appropriate appearance and feel to represent the little town of Sparta, Mississippi. Sparta, Illinois, served as an ideal setting for the film’s tale, which takes place in a close-knit Southern hamlet. Additionally, filming in Illinois helped to escape the racial hostilities that existed in the Southern United States throughout the 1960s.
Q: What were some specific locations used in Illinois for filming?
A: In Illinois, specific filming locations included the towns of Sparta and Chester in Randolph County, as well as Freeburg and Belleville in St. Clair County. Key scenes were shot around North Walnut, West Broadway, and West 2nd streets in Sparta, Illinois. The chase scene and bridge scenes were filmed in Chester.
Q: When was “In the Heat of the Night” released?
A: “In the Heat of the Night” was released on August 2, 1967.
