In the Heat of the Night (Collection of five original title card maquettes) by Adler, Harold (letterer); Norman Jewison (director); John Ball (novel); Stirling Silliphant (screenwriter); Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates (starring) - 1967

Beverly Hills, CA: The Mirisch Corporation / United Artists, 1967. Collection of five original title card maquettes for the 1967 film hand lettered by Harold Adler. Based on the 1965 novel by John Ball. Harold Adler was a calligrapher who created hand lettered titles on over 100 films, worked frequently with Alfred Hitchcock, and was a favorite of legendary title sequence designers Saul Bass and Pablo Ferro. In addition to "In the Heat of the Night," his credits include "Comanche!" (1956), "The Man with the Golden Arm" (1955), "The Seven Year Itch" (1955), "Carmen Jones" (1954), "Psycho" (1960), "The Birds" (1963), "Justine" (1969), and "Finian's Rainbow" (1969). In 2012, an exhibition of Adler's work was organized by noted typographer and design historian Jill Bell at the American Advertising Federation, Kansas City. A film as much, if not more so, about racial tensions in the Civil Rights era South as it is about a murder investigation, "In the Heat of the Night" won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Rod Steiger), and Best Adapted Screenplay. 22 x 13.25 inches. White lettering on black ink, tipped onto black board. Near Fine condition overall, with some light rubbing to the boards, some spotting, and minor fraying at the corners. Holograph numbering and editorial markings to the edges. Plastic tabs affixed tot he top of each card with tape. Collation available on request.