Car Wash (1976)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

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

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:

The main location of this film was an actual Los Angeles car wash a few blocks from McArthur Park. It was torn down in the late 1980s. While it was open, the marquee of the car wash announced it was featured in this film.

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 about something, 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 be time?
Mr. B: Look, I don't want to talk to you anymore about Duane! Okay?
Lonnie: Okay, let don't talk about "Duane". Let's talk about me. I got to have more money, Mr. B. And I can't make it on what your payin' me right now. I've got two children to raise all by myself.
Mr. B: Lonnie, I can't. That Blue Bird Car Wash down the street is driving me out of business...
Lonnie: Mr. B, I keep telling you, you've got a big lot here! If you organize this thing right and spend a little money here and there, you could be making twice as much as you are now!
Mr. B: Lonnie, I know you've got ideas. You've got ideas. Don't I always pay you extra for opening and closing?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rent (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.