On paper, it might not seem like much—the frenzied goings-on over the course of a day at a car wash in Los Angeles—but Michael Schultz’s Car Wash pulls everything it can from its premise, delivering a remarkably sunny, human comedy. And the cast! How about Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Franklin Ajaye, Ivan Dixon, Bill Duke, Antonio Fargas, Irwin Corey, the Pointer Sisters, and Garrett Morris? The characters come fast and furious, bringing with them the manic energy that supercharges the film. Director Schultz was one of the top African-American directors of the time, with credits that include Cooley High, Which Way Is Up?, Krush Groove and The Last Dragon. Improbably written by Joel Schumacher, Car Wash was a major hit, earning $15 million on a $2 million budget. Somehow, though, the classic theme song by Rose Royce was not nominated for an Oscar (boo!). ~SM