Car Wash (1976)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writer:

Joel Schumacher (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Car Wash is about a close-knit group of black employees who one day have all manner of strange visitors coming onto their forecourt...

Plot Keywords:

Car Wash | Business | Cult Favorite | Motor Car Wash | Female Sitting On Toilet

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Franklyn Ajaye	...	T.C.
Sully Boyar	...	Mr. B
Richard Brestoff	...	Irwin
George Carlin	...	Taxi Driver
Irwin Corey	...	Mad bomber (as Prof. Irwin Corey)
Ivan Dixon	...	Lonnie
Bill Duke	...	Duane (Abdullah)
Antonio Fargas	...	Lindy
Michael Fennell	...	Calvin
Arthur French	...	Charlie
Lorraine Gary	...	Hysterical Lady ('Miss Beverly Hlls')
Darrow Igus	...	Floyd
Leonard Jackson	...	Earl
Otis Day	...	Lloyd (as De Wayne Jessie)
Lauren Jones	...	Marlene the Hooker
Jack Kehoe	...	Scruggs
Henry Kingi	...	Goody
Melanie Mayron	...	Marsha
Clarence Muse	...	Snapper
Garrett Morris	...	Slide
Leon Pinkney	...	Justin
Anita Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (as The Pointer Sisters)
Bonnie Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (as The Pointer Sisters)
June Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (as The Pointer Sisters)
Ruth Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (as The Pointer Sisters)
Richard Pryor	...	Daddy Rich
Tracy Reed	...	Mona
Pepe Serna	...	Chuco
James Spinks	...	Hippo
Ray Vitte	...	Geronimo
Ren Woods	...	Loretta
Antonie Becker	...	Charlene
Erin Blunt	...	Lonnie's Son
Carmine Caridi	...	Foolish Father
Reginald Farmer	...	Daddy Rich's chauffeur
Ricky Fellen	...	Hysterical Lady's son
Ben Frommer	...	Man Behind Kenny
Cynthia Hamowy	...	Bandaged Man's Wife
John Linson	...	Foolish Father's Son
Ed Metzger	...	Arresting policeman
Antar Mubarak	...	Sonny Fredricks
Derek Schultz	...	Foolish Father's Son
Mike Slaney	...	Harold (bandaged man)
Al Stellone	...	Oldsmobile Owner
Jackie Toles	...	Calvin's Mother
Janine Williams	...	Lonnie's Daugher
Otis Sistrunk	...	Otis
Tim Thomerson	...	Kenny (as Timmothy Tomerson)
Jason Bernard	...	Lonnie's Parole Officer
Jay Butler	...	AM Disc Jockey (voice)
J.J. Jackson	...	PM Disc Jockey #2 (voice)
Rod McGrew	...	PM Disc Jockey (voice)
Sarina C. Grant	...	Newscaster (voice)
Billy Bass	...	Newscaster (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brooke Adams	...	Terry (scenes deleted)
Benny Baker	...	Barney (scenes deleted)
Danny DeVito	...	Joe (scenes deleted)
Lewis Lillian	...	Bernie (scenes deleted)
Danny Tucker	...	Cop at Big Joe's (scenes deleted)
Sunny Woods	...	Kenny's Date (scenes deleted)
Brian Gusse	...	Tall man crossing street (uncredited)
Barbara Walden	...	Saleswoman (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Schultz

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joel Schumacher		written by

Produced by
Art Linson	....	producer
Don Phillips	....	associate producer
Gary Stromberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Norman Whitfield

Cinematography by
Frank Stanley

Film Editing by
Christopher Holmes

Casting by
Don Phillips

Art Direction by
Robert Clatworthy

Set Decoration by
Anthony C. Montenaro		(as A.C. Montenaro)

Costume Design by
Daniel Paredes

Makeup Department
Chuck Crafts	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Bud Brill	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	first assistant director
Daniel Franklin	....	second assistant director
Richard Hashimoto	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound
Earl Madery	....	sound
Roger Sword	....	sound editor

Editorial Department
Steve Johnson	....	colorist

Music Department
John Caper Jr.	....	music editor
Paul Riser	....	music arranger: songs
Norman Whitfield	....	music producer

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver

Other crew
Barbara Amato	....	script supervisor
Mike Hamilton	....	title designer

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• GoodTimes Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MCA Videocassette (1981) (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Technicolor  color by

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Spain:13 | Netherlands:MG6 | Ireland:PG | Australia:M | Sweden:11 | Finland:K-12 | Norway:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Deluxe Car Wash - 6th Street & Rampart Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Last movie acting performance of Ivan Dixon.

Quotes:

Daddy Rich: The best place for money, is right here in my pocket.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Dark Side of Porn: Debbie Does Dallas Uncovered (#1.3)" (2005)

Funny And Influential

A great ensemble cast, a loose, funky script that left room for improvisation and a great (nonstop) pulsating disco/soul soundtrack make this film a pleasant diversion and definitely a document of its' era. It also served as a blueprint for many other primarily black-cast comedies to come. When writing 1997's "Friday," Ice Cube was quoted as saying he wanted to create a fun film just like "Car Wash." Many funny scenes, some in questionable taste, but still harmless enough. For those who lived through the period, it'll bring back some memories.