Melinda Blu Ray Review (Warner Archive Collection)

Melinda is a 1972 crime action film directed by Hugh A. Robertson (Soul in Cinema, Obeah, Roll Out, and Bim). It’s written by Lonne Elder III (Sounder franchise, Bustin’ Loose, Runaway, and Thou Shalt Not Kill). It was produced by actor Pervis Atkins (The Longest Yard, Saturday Night Live, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Delvecchio). When Melinda Lewis (played by: Vonetta McGee from Blacula, Hammer, Repo Man, and Shaft in Africa) is found dead in his apartment, smooth-talking disk jockey Frankie J. Parker (played by: Calvin Lockhart from Wild at Heart, Predator 2, Coming to America, The Beast Must Die, and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me) is desperate to prove his innocence from this gruesome crime. He has to deal with a variety of junkies, dealers and thugs while trying to clear his name. Melinda is the ex-mistress of a Chicago mobster Mitch (played by: Paul Stevens from Patton, The Mask, Get Christie Love!, Corky, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, and Rage) and the gangster wants the missing evidence back. Frankie gets help from his ex-girlfriend Terry (played by: Rosalind Cash from The Omega Man, Death Spa, and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension) and a local karate master Charles (played by: Jim Kelly from Enter the Dragon, Black Samurai, Take a Hard Ride, and Three the Hard Way). Frankie is forced to track down the mob boss who framed him and it’s time to avenge Melinda’s death!!!! Melinda is very similar to a good amount of blaxploitation features made around the 70’s. Director Hugh A. Robertson is behind the camera for this crime action hybrid. The script takes it’s time to develop for around the first 40 minutes. Lead actor Calvin Lockhart as Frankie J. Parker is a local DJ that gets set up from the mob. He has go through hell to get himself out of this nightmare. He has to investigate the situation and it brings him to some shady people. Lockhart holds his own in Melinda. Action star Jim Kelly makes his screen debut as karate master Charles. He was always in his element with stuff like this. He’s the skilled fighter trying to help out this DJ from being framed for murder. The beautiful woman like Rosalind Cash as Terry and Vonetta McGee as Melinda are excellent eye candy. These feisty chicks really stand out in this. The rest of the supporting cast includes Paul Stevens, Rockne Tarkington (Black Samson), Ross Hagen (Action U.S.A.), Renny Roker (Brothers), Jan Tice (Midnight Cowboy), Judyann Elder (Family Matters), Ed Cambridge (Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey), Chuck Hicks (Dick Tracy), Eddie Smith (Drum), and Khalil Bezaleel (In the Heat of the Night). It’s a straight up drama for the first half. You have to be a little patient here and let everything build up before it really takes off. It rewards the audience for it’s finale. It mixes up the streets, mobsters, and karate in Melinda. It delivers on sleaze and action for this revenge movie. Melinda is very entertaining after it’s slower development, it really has full characters in this with a history. It’s great to see this underrated 70’s get resurrected on home video after all these years from Warner Archive, RECOMMENDED!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation and special feature from the Warner Archive Collection! This 1080p (1.85:1) transfer is from a brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative. It’s a huge improvement over all the older DVD and VHS home video releases. It’s most likely the best that it will ever look, I don’t see this one going to 4K at all. It has an English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on the disc. The audio is better than expected for being an independent 70’s production. It takes a little bit but the action shines in this department towards the end. The soundtrack really stands here also. All of the dialogue is very clean, the revenge is elevated, and the music has a killer boost to it. It has English SDH subtitles. The only extra on the disc is the “Trailer”. It’s available everywhere right now including MovieZyng.com, CHECK IT OUT!!!!