A comedic take on the daily life of car-wash employees, chronicling their hopes, fears, joys, dreams, and tribulations, and meeting some eccentric customers along the way.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 3 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Franklyn Ajaye | ... |
T.C.
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| Sully Boyar | ... |
Leon 'Mr. B' Barrow
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| Richard Brestoff | ... |
Irwin Barrow
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| George Carlin | ... |
The Taxi Driver
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| Irwin Corey | ... |
The Mad Bomber
(as Prof. Irwin Corey)
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| Otis Day | ... |
Lloyd
(as De Wayne Jessie)
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| Ivan Dixon | ... |
Lonnie
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| Bill Duke | ... |
Duane / Abdullah
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| Michael Fennell | ... |
Calvin
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Arthur French | ... |
Charlie
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| Antonio Fargas | ... |
Lindy
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| Lorraine Gary | ... |
Hysterical Lady
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Darrow Igus | ... |
Floyd
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| Leonard Jackson | ... |
Earl
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Lauren Jones | ... |
Marleen
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| Jack Kehoe | ... |
Scruggs
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| Henry Kingi | ... |
Goody
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| Melanie Mayron | ... |
Marsha
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| Garrett Morris | ... |
Slide
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| Clarence Muse | ... |
Snapper
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| Leon Pinkney | ... |
Justin
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| The Pointer Sisters | ... |
The Wilson Sisters
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| Richard Pryor | ... |
Daddy Rich
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| Tracy Reed | ... |
Mona
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| Pepe Serna | ... |
Chuco
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| James Spinks | ... |
Hippo
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| Ray Vitte | ... |
Geronimo
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| Renn Woods | ... |
Loretta
(as Ren Woods)
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| Erin Blunt | ... |
Lonnie's Son
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Janine Williams | ... |
Lonnie's Daugher
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Ricky Fellen | ... |
Hysterical Lady's Son
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| Carmine Caridi | ... |
Foolish Father
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Otis Sistrunk | ... |
Otis
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| John Linson | ... |
Foolish Father's Son
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Derek Schultz | ... |
Foolish Father's Son
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Cynthia Hamowy | ... |
Bandaged Man's Wife
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Jackie Toles | ... |
Calvin's Mother
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Antonie Becker | ... |
Charlene
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| Tim Thomerson | ... |
Marsha's Blond Date
(as Timothy Thomerson)
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Mike Slaney | ... |
Bandaged Man
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Antar Mubarak | ... |
Sonny Fredericks
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Reginald Farmer | ... |
Daddy Rich's Chauffeur
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Al Stellone | ... |
Oldsmobile Owner
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| Jason Bernard | ... |
Lonnie's Parole Officer
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| Ed Metzger | ... |
Arresting Cop
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Ben Frommer | ... |
Man Behind Ken
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Jay Butler | ... |
AM Disc Jockey (voice)
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J.J. Jackson | ... |
2nd PM Disc Jockey (voice)
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Rod McGrew | ... |
PM Disc Jockey (voice)
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Sarina C. Grant | ... |
Newscaster (voice)
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Billy Bass | ... |
Newscaster (voice)
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| Brooke Adams | ... |
Terry (scenesDeleted)
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| Benny Baker | ... |
Barney (scenesDeleted)
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| Danny DeVito | ... |
Joe (scenesDeleted)
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Lewis Lillian | ... |
Bernie (scenesDeleted)
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Danny Tucker | ... |
Cop at Big Joe's (scenesDeleted)
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Sunny Woods | ... |
Kenny's Date (scenesDeleted)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Brian Gusse | ... |
Tall Man Crossing Street (uncredited)
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Anita Pointer | ... |
Wilson Sister (uncredited)
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| Bonnie Pointer | ... |
Wilson Sister (uncredited)
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June Pointer | ... |
Wilson Sister (uncredited)
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Ruth Pointer | ... |
Wilson Sister (uncredited)
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Woni Spotts | ... |
Child (uncredited)
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Barbara Walden | ... |
Saleswoman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Michael Schultz | ... | (directed by) |
Written by
| Joel Schumacher | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Art Linson | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Don Phillips | ... | associate producer |
| Gary Stromberg | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Norman Whitfield | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Frank Stanley | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Christopher Holmes | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Rick Mitchell | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Don Phillips | ... | (casting) |
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 |
| Charles Clement | ... | post production operations head (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Phil Bowles | ... | first assistant director |
| Daniel Franklin | ... | second assistant director (as Dan Franklin) |
| Richard Hashimoto | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Drew Struzan | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Peter Berkos | ... | sound editor |
| Baker Bigsby | ... | music mix engineer |
| Willie D. Burton | ... | sound |
| Robert L. Hoyt | ... | sound |
| Roger Heman Jr. | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Earl Madery | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Dennis C. Salcedo | ... | optical sound recordist (uncredited) |
| Roger Sword | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Kevin Pike | ... | special effects technician |
| Don Wolz | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Glenn R. Wilder | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Music Department
| John Caper Jr. | ... | music editor |
| Paul Riser | ... | music arranger: songs |
| Norman Whitfield | ... | music producer |
| Baker Bigsby | ... | music mix engineer (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Barbara Amato | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Chris Haynes | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Michael Hamilton | ... | title designer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1976) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1976) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures Corporation of Far East (1976) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (France) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Filmes Lusomundo (1977) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Japan) (theatrical)
- DiscoVision (1978) (United States) (video) (Laserdisc)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1978) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Universal Films of India (1979) (India) (theatrical) (as Universal Pictures India)
- CIC Video (1980) (West Germany) (VHS)
- MCA Videocassette (1981) (United States) (VHS)
- GoodTimes Home Video (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- GoodTimes Entertainment (1999) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Video (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2012) (United States) (DVD)
- Elephant Films (2016) (France) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Shout! Factory (2017) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Shout Select (2017) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Wicked Vision Distribution (2021) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Wicked Vision Distribution (2021) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Technicolor (color)
- Universal Studios Sound Facilities (post-production sound services)
- Universal Title (titles and opticals)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
One day, a close-knit group of car-wash employees 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's mistaken for a drunk, but the bottle he clutches is actually his urine sample as he is off to the hospital. Meanwhile, T.C.'s love life improves, and the songs keep coming.
Written by Graeme Huggan |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Hey, it's a '70s thing! [Video Title] See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The movie's title song, "Car Wash", was a #1 chart-topping hit for Rose Royce, and was one of the biggest-selling singles of the 1970s disco music era. See more » |
| Goofs | (around 55 min.) The camera crew is reflected on a station wagon's wing mirror. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The Celluloid Closet (1995). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Car Wash See more » |
| Crazy Credits | The principal cast members are all spoken out at the end of the film by J.J. Jackson, one of the film's deejays. See more » |
| Quotes |
[Duane has just thrown Irwin's book into a bucket of water]
Lindy: I'm so tired of you running off at your mouth it's getting me down honey. Why don't you just leave? And be an assassin? Or is the only thing you're good at shooting off is your big mouth? Duane: Will you please get out of my face you sorry looking faggot. Lindy: Who you calling sorry looking? [Everybody laughs] Duane: Can't ya'll see "she" aint funny? [laughter stops] Duane: She's just another poor example of how the system is destroying our men. Lindy: Honey, I'm more man than you'll ever be and more woman than you'll ever get. See more » |