Thursday, September 18, 2008

Keep Those Rags and Machines Humming


Is there a curse of Car Wash, the 1976 movie show directed by Michael Schultz?

Nah, time's passing is all.

Norman Whitfield's death brought back to me how groovy Car Wash is, B movie production quality be damned. It's a workers' movie, a kind we ought to see more of, a kind that had a strong showing in the rough and tumble 1970s.

Well, since we're back in the rough and tumble thirty odd years later, why not take another look back and see how people responded then?

If all else fails, you can read Roger Ebert's review linked on www.imdb.com under Car Wash and get his take.

Look at that cover: Richard Pryor and George Carlin, RIP. Those guys were a trip. Ivan Dixon, the sympatico foreman in Car Wash and all around terrific character actor (graduated from North Carolina College at Durham, now North Carolina Central University, in 1954, and was a regular on Hogan's Heroes) died earlier this year -- three months before Carlin. Man, I miss 'em all, Norman Whitfield included.

Time to find that digital copy of Car Wash, no question!

Today's Rune: Growth.

13 comments:

the walking man said...

Strange in an ephemeral sort of way how things and events of a not so distant past are coming round to define a most tumultuous present. Maybe the modern day prophets speak through celluloid and recording tape. Or is it that we've seen it all before, once in a lifetime wasn't enough for a more than masochistic generation.

Synchronicity said...

wow..i have never seen this version. so many movies...so little time.

Anonymous said...

It was cool to work in a car wash in the 70's. I worked with a guy who now does radio commercials for the St. Joseph Mercy Health System, Dr. Alberto Nacif. He was just Al in the good old car wash days. If you called him Alberto he would put you in a head lock and play drums on your head. As well being a family doctor MD, he plays the bongo drums pretty well and is also a recording artist.--Wax Man

Joe said...

Time to take another look at this one. Thanks!

Charles Gramlich said...

Been a long time since I've thought about that movie. It was pretty funny as I recall.

Anonymous said...

Mrs. Evan here... hi, Erik! I had no idea you were a "Car Wash" fan. Cool movie, wonderful soundtrack including Rose Royce's "I Wanna Get Next to You."
I'm curious- did you see "Sparkle" way back in the way-back machine?

Pythia3 said...

Hello, Erik!
Thanks for not giving up on me!
I have been GROWING like Alice (but, without the drugs! haha)
I have not had internet so I only get on a limited time at a local coffee shop these days.
I have been a gypsy - but it will, hopefully, pay off soon.
Thanks for keeping in touch - I think of you often, even though I am not cybering around.
Lindy ;)

Pythia3 said...

PS are they hiring at the Car Wash?

Lana Gramlich said...

I hate to admit it, but I've never seen that movie. <:(

Rethabile said...

Yeah, those were the days. The Rose Royce soundtrack is somethin' else, too.

Erik Donald France said...

Thanks all for the comments! Muc appreciated . . .

Erik Donald France said...

"Mrs. Evan" -- haven't seen Sparkle but am hoping one day to see some real Motown flicks about the real people a la Walk the Line and also hope The Gospel According to Janis comes out. And one on Marvin Gay, and Miles Davis, and John Cotrane. How cool would those be? (Jimi Hendrix, and on and on down the line -- like the Iggy Pop flick in process!)

Pythia, Lindy -- the Gypsy life is fascinating, and quite a brave path -- good luck!

And again, thanks everybody!

Erik Donald France said...

p.s. Marvin Gaye (typo)