Melinda

Melinda

Year: 1972

Runtime: 109 mins

Language: English

Director: Hugh A. Robertson

CrimeActionDrama

A smooth‑talking, womanizing young black DJ falls hard for an enigmatic woman he’s just met, only to discover her dead in his apartment. He learns the local mob killed her and is framing him for the crime. With police closing in, he enlists old acquaintances to clear his name and avenge her death.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Melinda (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Melinda (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Los Angeles, California

Set in Los Angeles, the story unfolds across city streets, a nightclub, and a harbor yacht. The glossy, sunlit backdrop contrasts with a world of crime, wealth, and personal betrayal. Key locations include Tank Robertson's nightclub, a bank, and Mitch’s mansion.

🌆 Urban setting 🎬 City backdrop 🕵️‍♂️ Crime underworld

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:13

Main Characters – Melinda (1972)

Meet the key characters of Melinda (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Frankie J. Parker (Calvin Lockhart)

A Los Angeles radio disc jockey who practices karate and navigates a flirtatious, risk-filled life. His easy-going charm masks loyalty and quick action, especially when defending Melinda. His arc shifts from casual romance to protective, vengeful resolve as the case unfolds.

🎭 Charismatic DJ 🥋 Karate student 💘 Romantic impulsive

Melinda (Vonetta McGee)

A mysterious woman whose past hints at danger and power, driving her interactions with Frankie. Her murder becomes the catalyst for Frankie’s descent into violence and revenge. Her real name is Audrey Miller.

🌹 Enigmatic outsider 🔒 Secretive past 💃 Catalyst for violence

Mitch (Paul Stevens)

A Chicago gangster entwined with LA crime networks who wants a mysterious item Melinda carried. He exerts power through intimidation and scheming, confident that he can outmaneuver his rivals. His complacency is shattered by Frankie’s vengeful confrontation.

🕴️ Crime lord 💼 Manipulative 🗝️ Power broker

Tank Robertson (Rockne Tarkington)

A nightclub owner and business figure tied to Mitch, serving as a social hub for Frankie and the crime world. His venues illustrate wealth and influence, while his ties to Mitch reveal the corruption underlying the city’s glamour.

🎪 Nightlife impresario 🏝️ Yacht party figure 💰 Power broker

Charles Atkins (Jim Kelly)

A karate instructor who mentors Frankie and helps organize a rescue mission with his students. His discipline provides a strict counterbalance to the underworld’s chaos, highlighting loyalty and bravery.

🥋 Karate mentor 🧭 Loyal ally 💪 Discipline

Terry Davis (Rosalind Cash)

Frankie’s girlfriend who becomes involved when the case turns dangerous. She is forced into a hostage-like position as Mitch’s schemes unfold, testing her resolve and triggering Frankie’s decisive action. She eventually plays a key role in the rescue sequence.

❤️ Love interest 🕴️ Rescuer’s ally 🗝️ Target in the heist

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:13

Major Themes – Melinda (1972)

Explore the central themes of Melinda (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

⚔️ Revenge

Frankie’s pursuit of vengeance after Melinda’s murder drives the plot. The film frames violence as a response to betrayal, culminating in a brutal confrontation with Mitch. The consequences of revenge ripple through Frankie’s life and those around him.

💘 Love and Jealousy

Frankie falls for Melinda while his girlfriend Terry grows jealous, pulling him into a dangerous web. The affair heightens risk, blurs loyalties, and motivates decisions with violent outcomes. The love triangle intensifies the stakes and fuels the action.

🕵️‍♂️ Crime and Deception

The underworld operates through manipulation, a stolen item, and a crucial tape that is inaudible, showing how truth can be bent. Scenes move between a bank, Mitch’s mansion, and other power centers as players attempt to outsmart each other. The narrative centers on cunning, deceit, and the costs of criminal ambition.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:13

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Thrillers about being framed like Melinda

Ordinary people forced into dangerous games to clear their names.If you liked the tense, high-stakes action of Melinda, you'll enjoy these movies about characters wrongly accused of a crime. This list features similar fast-paced thrillers and crime dramas where the hero must evade capture and uncover the truth to clear their name.

suspensefulparanoiddangerousthrillingurgenttensegritty

Narrative Summary

These stories typically begin with a shocking inciting incident that frames the protagonist. The plot follows a linear, urgent quest for truth and justice, forcing the hero to use their wits and resourcefulness against a powerful, often shadowy, antagonist. The journey is marked by chase sequences, narrow escapes, and a growing conspiracy.

Why These Movies?

These films share a core narrative structure of a wrongful accusation, creating immediate high stakes and a paranoid, thrilling tone. They often feature a fast pace, high intensity, and a protagonist the audience roots for as they navigate a world suddenly turned against them.

Movies with bittersweet revenge like Melinda

Stories where getting even leaves a hollow victory and emotional scars.Explore films with a similar gritty, melancholic tone to Melinda, where the pursuit of vengeance is central but the victory feels hollow. These movies often blend action with heavy drama, resulting in a powerful and emotionally resonant, if not entirely happy, ending.

vengefulmelancholicgrittyheavybittersweetgrimdetermined

Narrative Summary

The journey is fueled by a profound personal loss or betrayal. The protagonist's quest for retribution is the main plot, often involving escalating violence. However, the resolution emphasizes the emotional cost; the antagonist may be defeated, but the protagonist's life or spirit is permanently altered, leaving a sense of melancholy rather than pure triumph.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a specific emotional arc: a heavy weight driven by grief and betrayal, leading to a violent climax that delivers justice but not necessarily closure. The combination of high-intensity action with a bittersweet, melancholic undertone creates a distinct and powerful viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Melinda

Don't stop at just watching — explore Melinda in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Melinda is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Melinda Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Melinda, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Melinda Summary

Melinda Timeline

Track the full timeline of Melinda with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Melinda Timeline

Melinda Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Melinda that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Melinda Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Melinda

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Melinda: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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