They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970)

Directed by Gordon Douglas. Starring Sidney Poitier, Martin Landau, Anthony Zerbe, Barbara McNair, Beverly Todd, Ed Asner, David Sheiner, Jeff Corey, Norma Crane, Juano Hernandez, Ted Gehring. [PG]

Poitier’s Philadelphia detective from In the Heat of the Night, Virgil “They Call Me Mister” Tibbs, has relocated to San Francisco and is in charge of the investigation into the murder of a hooker; chief suspects include slimy building owner/pimp Zerbe and crusading reverend Landau (gee, I wonder who “surprisingly” did it). Aside from a few proto-blaxploitation touches and the incorruptible nature of workaholic Detective Tibbs, it’s an ordinary mystery-thriller with an above-average supporting cast, sluggish pace, and unexciting action. Without a strong personality to bounce off of this time, Tibbs loses much of his luster, with his domestic scenes landing especially flat (even when the hero impulsively slaps his son—apparently his go-to move after giving the bigoted plantation owner from Heat of the Night what he deserved). Music by Quincy Jones. Hernandez’s final film. A third Mister Tibbs pic arrived the following year: The Organization.

48/100