Melinda

A smooth DJ falls for a woman he's just met. When he finds her dead a short time later, he discovers that she had been killed because of her ties to organized crime. The DJ decides to avenge her death, receiving the help of a woman (the late, great Rosalind Cash) whom he had scorned. This film doesn't exactly follow the bullets and blood formula of many other Blackploitation action films. It does a little better on characterization, especially of the DJ and his scorned gal pal. However, it doesn't get as deep as it promises to be.

The idea of Metro Goldwyn Mayer dipping its toe into the blaxploitation genre may at first sound strange, but actually MGM did this several times, most notably with the "Shaft" films. But while the "Shaft" films are well know to this day, "Melinda" has been all but forgotten today. It doesn't take long upon watching it to figure out why. The first third of the movie is incredibly slow and dull. The next two-thirds has a bit more speed and action, but too little and too late. Director Hugh A. Robertson was obviously hampered by a poor screenplay, but he was also obviously restricted with a limited amount of money, since the movie looks more like an effort for television than for the silver screen. But that's not to say that Robertson should be totally absolved of fault. There are some very poorly directed sequences, and his instructions to the movie's star Calvin Lockhart make the talented actor's character come across as selfish, obnoxious, and cruel. I have a feeling that even the target audience at the time found this a sub par effort, though I'll admit I have seen much worse 1970s blaxploitation films.

of all the blaxplotation films in the 70's, Melinda ranks on my list with Shaft, Superfly, Trouble Man, Cotton comes to Harlem, and such like. i had'nt seen it since 1974 maybe, and have been looking for it for more than 30 years. finally, i found it in San Francisco. the DVD was a good print although you knew it was as old as it is/was. Calvin Lockhart was brilliant as the narcissistic Frankie J Parker, and Rosiland Cash's role of Terry, displayed the strength and resolve of a strong Black woman of the time. violent and dark, with a hint of mystery and overloaded with the rage of revenge, Melinda was a thriller. as i watched again, for the first time, the lines all came back and i can remember how many of Lockhart's lines, i began using. incredible how influential movies can be to a 20year old African-American in the 70's.

I thought when you went to the drive-in to watch bl2cksploitation movies it was for cheap thrills.

Where's the entertainment here? The lead actor isn't suave or cool. He's just some vain, obnoxious jagov. The first 40 minutes are consumed with this guy meeting a fine lady, making out, and then finding her dead in his apartment. This should have taken less than 10 minutes.

The rest is hardly any better. Something about the mob. Some karate. And a lot of really terrible acting. The fight scenes, in particular, are laughably bad.

It's all so boring.

This is one in a long line of blaxploitation films made during the 70's that were designed as money making vehicles. Most of them are simply terrible, but Melinda is actually a cool one.

Its basically a revenge tale, but it is chock full of melodrama and excitement. The story is an overdone one, but the films' cheapness actually benefits it. The settings seem authentic and the movie actually manages to capture some street life in it.

Admittedly, the acting is not excellent, but somehow the film manages to be entertaining in a "ghetto" way. Don't go out of your way to see it, though.