Melinda (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) (1972)

Calvin Lockhart stars as the sophisticated disc jockey in a grueling fight for survival in MGM's ‘“‘Melinda.”’ MAT NO. 1A Rosalind Cash plays Calvin Lockhart’s strong determined woman in MGM's ‘‘Melinda.” MAT NO. 1D EXCITING TIME TO BE A BLACK ACTRESS “I do believe that right now is the most exciting time in the history of movies to be an actress,’’ states Rosalind Cash, star of MGM's “‘Melinda.’’ “‘Most of the roles today require a great deal of subtlety and skill to portray the degree of reality that today’s audience demands. This is especially true for the black actress,’’ says Miss Cash. “Gone are the days when an aspiring black actress can look forward to nothing but roles as maids and prostitutes. “Today screenwriters recognize the many levels of a woman’s personality and reject many of the screen’s past stereotypes,’’ explains Rosalind. ‘‘This is true of roles for white actresses as well, but it is especially fortunate for the black actress who has been so very limited in the past. “The role | play in ‘Melinda’ is a perfect case. Not only is my character not a menial, she is talented, intelligent, confident and operates her own publishing company. The idea of a black woman having a serious career is certainly a new image for the black women on the screen.” “‘Melinda,’’ an action packed drama underscored by a poignant love story, also stars Calvin Lockhart and Vonetta McGee. Produced by Pervis Atkins and directed by Hugh Robertson, the screenplay was written by Lonne Elder, III. Miss Cash, who worked for three years in the Negro Ensemble in New York City, says that blacks have had some good solid roles in the theatre where plays by black playwrights have been produced. ‘‘But,’’ she says, ‘‘the movies seem to have just discovered that we have something to say.”’ Although pleased with the new crop of films by blacks, she feels these films have a much wider appeal than to just black audiences. ““*Melinda’ is an action type film, but it is also a very real love story,’’ continued Miss Cash. ‘‘l think women particularly will relate to this aspect of the film. It is so truly reflective of the type of love affairs so many of us become involved in these days. A true love, but a fear of commitment — uncertainty about the future. It’s very realistic. As an actress, this is very exciting for me. And it seems that it’s just the beginning.”’ SOMETIMES “NO” CAN BE POSITIVE Following his gripping performance in ‘‘Joanna,’’ Calvin Lockhart, currently starring in MGM’s ‘‘Melinda,’’ was considered by most film critics as the next Sidney Poitier. Women were talking about this fine dude, whose flamboyant flair and straight-on sex appeal had illuminated the screen and sent shivers up their spines. His second film, ‘‘Halls of Anger,’’ dealt with racial blindness and misunderstanding. According to Lockhart, the theme was “more prevalent behind the camera than in front of it. What | didn’t understand was the possibility that | was expected to BE Sidney Poitier. “It was a simple matter of misunderstanding. At the time, | found Hollywood very up-tight. It was insulated and saw no necessity for change. “I really don’t want to rehash any of that. | would like to think of my life now as a very positive force forward,’”’ says Lockhart, speaking between scenes of his new film for MGM, ‘‘Melinda.’”’ He portrays a super-smooth disc jockey, Frankie J. Parker, certain to once again place him at the threshold of Hollywood stardom. “When I came to Hollywood the first time, | came to do a job. | wasn’t all that interested in getting ahead. | was more interested in speaking my free mind.” Lockhart continued, ‘‘That’s the way | live my life, because that’s me. | only hope that when the crunch comes, when it gets right down to it, | can still stand and be counted. “If people really cared about other people, what they really feel, what they think, we’d be trying to understand, but nobody has the time anymore. “‘There’s a whole fad going on now about communication. It seems to me that communication means say ‘yes’ or ‘I agree.’ The moment you Say ‘no,’ well, you don’t communicate too well. ‘No’ is a very positive answer. It may be negative in terms of the situation, but it’s very positive in terms of the person you’re talking to,’’ said Lockhart. THE LADY LOVES MONSTERS “King Kong is my hero,’”’ says a vibrant Vonetta McGee, whose charming smile and alluring manner would certainly be more than enough to attract even the fussiest monster. ‘‘There’s poor King Kong, captured and deported from his native land, forced to exist in a foreign culture and when he can’t adapt, what do they do, they kill him!’ Miss McGee is currently playing a major role in MGM’s “‘Melinda,’”’ an action packed mystery directed by Hugh Robertson and produced by Pervis Atkins from a screenplay by Lonne Elder, Ill. In the film, which stars Calvin Lockhart and Rosalind Cash, Vonetta plays a sophisticated but mysterious young woman involved in underworld dealings. “| really identify with monsters,’’ Miss McGee elaborates, ‘‘l see them as poor creatures who just want to be left alone and allowed to live in their environment, whether it be a mummy case or a black lagoon, and do their own thing. Instead they are forced from their habitats then segregated, discriminated against and generally picked on. In the end they are always destroyed. “What sensitive human being is not near tears when Frankenstein attempts to play with that little girl near the stream, or when that poor man is turned against his will into a snarling, hairy werewolf. | would like to appear in a film that showed some compassion for the monster minority.” To this end Vonetta is contemplating writing her own screenplay about these unfortunate creatures from her very own personal point of view. Although she has not firmly decided on what form her own particular monster will take, there is sure to be a big part for a sympathetic character portrayed by Vonetta McGee, Patroness of Monsters. Calvin Lockhart escorts his new love, Vonetta McGee, to the post office to collect his daily stack of fan mail in MGM’s ‘‘Melinda.” Calvin Lockhart, a super smooth disc jockey in trouble, draws a bead on a fleeing mobster in MGM's ‘‘Melinda.”’ MAT NO. 1F MAT NO. 1E