Melinda (film)

Melinda is a 1972 American blaxploitation film directed by Hugh Robertson and starring Calvin Lockhart in the lead role. The film follows Frankie J. Parker (Lockhart), a former U.S. Army captain and martial arts expert, as he investigates the murder of his girlfriend, Melinda (Vonetta McGee). His investigation leads him through a world of organized crime, drug trafficking, and corrupt officials in Los Angeles. The film is noted for its gritty depiction of urban life, its use of martial arts action sequences, and its funky soundtrack. It is considered a significant entry in the blaxploitation genre, though it has also been criticized for its violence and stereotypical portrayals.