Car Wash (1976)

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writer:

Joel Schumacher (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Car Wash | Cult Film | Inside A Car In A Car Wash | Reference To Richard Pryor | Black American

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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
Jack Kehoe	...	Scruggs
Garrett Morris	...	Slide
Leon Pinkney	...	Justin
Renn Woods	...	Loretta (as Ren Woods)
Lorraine Gary	...	Hysterical Lady
Lauren Jones	...	Marleen
Leonard Jackson	...	Earl
Sully Boyar	...	Leon 'Mr. B' Barrow
Irwin Corey	...	The Mad Bomber (as Prof. Irwin Corey)
Richard Brestoff	...	Irwin Barrow
Melanie Mayron	...	Marsha
Arthur French	...	Charlie
Michael Fennell	...	Calvin
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 Ken
Cynthia Hamowy	...	Bandaged Man's Wife
John Linson	...	Foolish Father's Son
Ed Metzger	...	Arresting Cop
Antar Mubarak	...	Sonny Fredericks
Derek Schultz	...	Foolish Father's Son
Mike Slaney	...	Bandaged Man
Al Stellone	...	Oldsmobile Owner
Jackie Toles	...	Calvin's Mother
Janine Williams	...	Lonnie's Daugher
Otis Sistrunk	...	Otis
Tim Thomerson	...	Ken (as Timothy Thomerson)
Jason Bernard	...	Lonnie's Parole Officer
Jay Butler	...	AM Disc Jockey (voice)
J.J. Jackson	...	2nd PM Disc Jockey (voice)
Rod McGrew	...	PM Disc Jockey (voice)
Sarina C. Grant	...	Newscaster (voice)
Billy Bass	...	Newscaster (voice)
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)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brian Gusse	...	Tall Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
Anita Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (uncredited)
Bonnie Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (uncredited)
June Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (uncredited)
Ruth Pointer	...	Wilson Sister (uncredited)
Barbara Walden	...	Saleswoman (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Schultz

Writing credits
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		(director of photography)

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 (as Robert Stevenson)

Production Management
Bud Brill	....	unit production manager

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

Sound Department
Peter Berkos	....	sound editor
Baker Bigsby	....	music mix engineer
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	optical sound recordist
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound (uncredited)
Earl Madery	....	sound (uncredited)
Roger Sword	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Don Wolz	....	special effects (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Rick Mitchell	....	assistant editor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist (uncredited)

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

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

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

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (France) (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)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Universal's 100th Anniversary)

Other Companies

• Technicolor  color
• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Cameo: [Richard Pryor]As Daddy Rich, head evangelist of the Church of Divine Economic Spirituality. Though Pryor has been frequently top-billed in promotional materials for this movie, his appearance in the ensemble of performances is only a cameo. Pryor has said in his auto-biography 'Pryor Convictions and Other Life Sentences' that he felt that the public were misled into believing that he had had a bigger part in this movie. Pryor also admitted being high during the shoot by saying: "On the set of 'Car Wash', I was too coked out to know any better".

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Little Giants (1994)

Soundtrack:

I Wanna Get Next to You

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. (****)