Carroll O'Connor, who played the bigoted Alf Garnett equivalent in America's version of Till Death Us Do Part, teams up with powerful black actor Howard Rollins to create a TV sequel to the Oscar-winning Rod Steiger-Sidney Poitier film of the same name - and a very serviceable job they make of it, too, as the redneck police chief meets up again with the dignified black detective, back in Mississippi from the big city for his mother's funeral. Soon the chalk-and-cheese pair are up to their eyes in a racially explosive murder investigation. British actor-turned-director David Hemmings develops a considerable rapport between the principals, even if they can't quite match the mighty work of their predecessors. Nevertheless they produce a fine film, embellished by good supporting performances by Doug Savant, Alan Autry, the always dependable Kevin McCarthy and Anne-Marie Johnson, as `Tibbs' wise wife.
15
