Melanie (1982)

One of my all time favorites.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

The acting in this movie is really good.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Melanie Daniel (Glynnis O'Connor) is poor, naive, illiterate and mother to 6 year old son Tyler in rural Jasper, Arkansas. Her husband Carl (Don Johnson) returns after two years away in the Army. She wakes up and Carl is gone with Tyler. He leaves her a note which she can't read. He's taken Tyler to California. She rides the bus to find old friend Ronda who has settled in L.A. Ronda is staying at a luxury house in the Hollywood hills with musician Rick (Burton Cummings). Walter (Paul Sorvino) is Rick's lawyer.The movie is uneven. Sometimes it is slower than molasses. Then there are moments of emotional intensity. Her bus friend discovering her illiteracy is a wonderful scene. I wish that gal could stay in the movie. Some of it seems to be shot on the real streets and has that immediacy. O'Connor does a very nice performance and holds the screen. Cummings is surprisingly good as an actor. He's doing more than simply singing here. The movie is generally shot poorly but O'Connor is fascinating enough to keep watching. The story doesn't get the flow that well. It's a lot of starting and stopping.

I absolutely love this movie. It is one of the best movies I have seen, Why can't we buy it?Where can I go to ask someone to put it in publication? It is a must to see. It is a great family movie. I guarantee anyone who see's this movie will love it.Glynnis O'Conner is awesome in this, so is Burton Cummings.Great music that Burton sings. Don Johnson is great in this movie.All the people who are cast in this movie are great.It's also a great love story. I wish I could find this movie. I will get several copy's for friends and family.

Melanie has got to be one of the most Heart Warming stories...Burton Cummings plays the main part and what a Great Job he has done..Burton is one of the most talented singers of all times...The older he gets the more talent comes from his Golden Voice...God Bless You Burton Cummings ....I have seen him in concert over the years and he will always be Number One...I do hope that some of you get to watch the Move Melanie....Or buy it from ebay...Don Johnson, Paul Sorvina and Glynnis O'Conner...This is a poignant and Heart Warming adventure of Love And Courage...This was Burton Cummings only movie that he made and did One Great job as an Actor

I, too, am surprised this movie isn't more popular. I wouldn't rest until I got a copy on eBay, as it is so hard to find. Although several years had elapsed between viewings, I found it as fresh and meaningful as the first time I viewed it. Glynnis O'Connor (whatever happened to her?) is charming and believable as the illiterate but tough and determined mother who will do anything to get her child back. Don Johnson is chillingly evil - or maybe just plain mean - as the redneck husband and father and his performance is excellent, one of his very best (although brief). Paul Sorvino is low-key and believable as the mentor who teaches Melanie to read and changes her life. And who knew Burton Cummings was a really good actor? All in all, a very heartwarming movie, but not sappy or insulting to the intelligence. I highly recommend it for everyone but young children (the sight of Don smacking Glynnis' character around might be hard to take).