Cinema Revisited: Car Wash (1976)

Directed by Michael Schultz. George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Franklyn Ajaye, Tracy Reed, Antonio Fargas, The Pointer Sisters, Ivan Dixon, Sully Boyer. Released October 22, 1976. Running time: 97 minutes.

Urban comedy had its own sub-genre during the 1970s, and "Car Wash" is one of the better examples. There is no real plot, or even an underlying narrative, just a gaggle of disparate characters played by familiar faces. It is a real ensemble piece about a close-knit group of car wash workers and their response to each other and the myriad of customers they deal with. It is not a message movie. There are no real attempts to address the struggles of the working class in this situation. It is really just a happy, carefree comedy that allows a lot of talented people from long ago take their turn at chewing the scenery.

The casting is impressive. George Carlin and Richard Pryor had redefined comedy by this time and appear to be having fun adding comic nuance to their screen characters. Old timers now who were young then, such as Franklyn Ajaye, Bill Duke, and Antonio Fargas, add further interest when watching this film as late as the 21st century. The inclusion of Ivan Dixon of "Hogan's Heroes," Professor Irwin Corey, and veteran black actor Clarence Muse was a nice touch. Music is a focal point here, with the title song by Rose Royce (a hit back in '76) along with several others by the group, and one by The Pointer Sisters, who perform it on screen. (note: Rose Royce lead singer Gwen Dickey was paralyzed from the waist down in a fall, but still performs today, seated on stage, singing her old hits).

There is some attempt to follow vignettes involving the various characters, but the film is essentially sustained by the music and the comedy bits. There is no real effort to tie everything together.

As urban comedies go, "Car Wash" is not as well-structured, or as ambitious as "Cooley High," released the year before. It is too loosely episodic and pointless. But, on its own terms, it is a good movie. Its cast is multicultural and the characters interact without prejudice, even in comic form. It is consistently cheerful and energetic, and some of the comic sequences are very funny. Mostly, it allows the actors some level of creative input, so when someone like Richard Pryor is on screen, his performance distracts from anything else. He commands his scenes with little effort, playing a flamboyant evangelist appropriately named Daddy Rich.

Perhaps what makes "Car Wash" even more enjoyable during the 21st century, is that it represents a time that, in retrospect, seems more peaceful, with greater camaraderie, and a stronger sense of humor about everything. Realizing that this is only a movie, and life back then was certainly more complex and challenging than presented on screen, there is still a sense of fun permeating this simple, enjoyable film that seems to be lacking in comedies of the current era.