Car Wash (1976)

Car Wash is about a close-knit group of employees who one day have all manner of strange visitors coming onto their forecourt, including Richard Pryor as a preaching 'wonder-man' who is ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writer:

Joel Schumacher

Stars:

Darrow Igus, Otis Day, Richard Pryor

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Darrow Igus	...	Floyd
Otis Day	...	Lloyd (as De Wayne Jessie)
James Spinks	...	Hippo
Antonio Fargas	...	Lindy
The Pointer Sisters	...	The Wilson Sisters
Richard Pryor	...	Daddy Rich
George Carlin	...	The Taxi Driver
Clarence Muse	...	Snapper
Franklyn Ajaye	...	T.C.
Tracy Reed	...	Mona
Bill Duke	...	Duane - Abdullah
Ivan Dixon	...	Lonnie
Henry Kingi	...	Goody
Pepe Serna	...	Chuco
Ray Vitte	...	Geronimo

Storyline

Car Wash is about a close-knit group of employees who one day have all manner of strange visitors coming onto their forecourt, including Richard Pryor as a preaching 'wonder-man' who is loved by most but loathed by one, and a man who looks like a thief by the way he is holding his bottle, but it is really his urine sample as he is off to the hospital. T.C's love life takes a turn for the better and the songs keep coming.

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Plot Keywords:

car wash | cult film | inside a car in a car wash | reference to richard pryor | black american | 

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Taglines:

Hey, it's a '70s thing! [Video Title]

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

22 October 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Car Wash - Der ausgeflippte Waschsalon

Filming Locations:

Dog House - 2614 West 6th Street - Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The time span in which the film is set is a 10 hour period over the course of a day.

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Quotes

Lonnie: Mr. B, about Abdullah... I'm really sorry about Abdullah. I know he's really wired up. I wish you'd think about giving him another chance.
Mr. B: I gave him a thousand chances. That's it! I don't want that belligerent trouble maker around my car wash anymore.
Lonnie: Mr. B, the man is just confused. He really is.
Mr. B: Lonnie, now is not the time.
Lonnie: Mr. B, every week I keep trying to talk to you, and every week you keep telling me "now is not the time". I've been working for you for over a year now. When is it gonna ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

The principal cast members credits at the end of the film are spoken out loud by one of the radio deejays.

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Connections

Referenced in Shark Tale (2004)

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Soundtracks

"Car Wash"
Written by Norman Whitfield
Performed by Rose Royce

User Reviews

Disc -o dance!!

The first time I saw this movie I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. My family had owned a car wash, detail company before and I could see that the writer of this movie had done his respective homework on the character development!! The motley crew that we had employed, were just about in the exact same 'vein' of life as these, 'cons' 'crazy men' and 'criminals' that made up the perfect cast in 'Carwash'! I loved this for simple reasons, it simply hit right on it.

Sully Boyer, the car-wash owner was a perfectly in place, dis-placed business owner, complete with bad marriage and regrets of owning the wash and not making it a parking lot, like his brother, who could now buy and sell him. There was T.C. (Theodore Chancey Talcott)played by Franklin Ajaye, who's 'hook' in the story was he was imagining that he would be a super hero, named 'The Fly'. "I'd be sharp, sharp, sharp, man. No one would mess with me." Standing with Lloyd by the rag sinks. But he was also in love with Mona. The fine foxy broad who worked at the café, 'Five Spot'. With the whole 'dryer line' to dry the cars as they pulled out from the washing area. The Mexican worker who would harass his Indian friend and back and forth it would go, all the while on the clock! The fighting couple with the classic Mustang to the hippie Jewish kid, well versed in ghetto speak. This movie had it all. Enter Richard Pryor, as the fast-talking money grabbing Rev. Daddy Rich. accompanied by the Pointer sisters! Hilarious!! The more I watch this the more astounded I am at how true to life and form these characters interact with one another.

Even an ending that was serious enough, to put a well-rounded effect on the out come of the plot and m.o. of the players. It showed, Loni cared about a young upstart punk, enough to see more in him than he himself(Ackbar-'Duane')could see for himself. Loni(Ivan Dixon's character)simply believed in Duane. That was what Duane needed to not end up in prison. He needed someone to believe in him, not use him to rob a company and go straight to prison.

I recommend this highly to those who love the seventies, a great comedic 'everyday' work-situation and doesn't necessarily need car chases or explosions, special effects etc. Bravo. (****)