“Car Wash” / 「カー・ウォッシュ」, Original Japanese Release Movie Poster 1977, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) — ZA895

This is an original Japanese B2 theatrical poster printed in 1977 for the Japanese release of Car Wash / 「カー・ウォッシュ」, the exuberant ensemble comedy directed by Michael Schultz and released in the United States in 1976.

A superb period piece of late-1970s American pop culture, the film is celebrated not only for its lively, character-driven portrait of working-class Los Angeles, but also for its iconic soul and disco soundtrack, led by Rose Royce’s immortal title song “Car Wash.” For collectors of Black cinema, 1970s American film, soundtrack culture, and graphic Japanese poster design, this is an especially appealing and visually memorable original.

Film background
Set over the course of one hectic day at a Los Angeles car wash, Car Wash follows a large cast of workers, customers, hustlers, dreamers, and drifters as their lives intersect in comic, chaotic, and unexpectedly humane ways. Directed by Michael Schultz from a screenplay by Joel Schumacher, the film captures the energy of the era with warmth, humour, and a strong sense of social observation.

The cast includes Franklin Ajaye, Darrow Igus, DeWayne Jessie, Tracy Reed, Antonio Fargas, and Richard Pryor, with music produced by Norman Whitfield and performed by Rose Royce. Over time, the film has become a bona fide cult classic, admired both as a vibrant slice of 1970s Los Angeles and as one of the defining soundtrack films of the decade.

Poster design
The Japanese poster is wonderfully bold and highly graphic, embracing a distinctly 1970s visual language.

The composition is structured around large geometric letterforms spelling “W-A-S-H” across the top and bottom of the sheet, filled with photographic stills from the film. At the centre, a large circular medallion made of concentric pink, orange, and red rings frames two of the film’s principal characters, giving the design a bright, pop-inflected focal point.

Across the middle runs the large white katakana title:

「カー★ウォッシュ」
“Car Wash”

Surrounding image panels depict scenes from the bustling car wash itself, including workers in orange uniforms, comic interactions, musical moments, and ensemble shots that underscore the film’s communal, freewheeling atmosphere.

A particularly attractive feature is the green triangular text block at the bottom, which advertises the hit soundtrack and its 19 featured songs, reinforcing the film’s identity as both a comedy and a major music-driven cultural event.

The vertical Japanese copy at the top reads:

「青春の汗と涙が見つけたもうひとつのナウなアメリカン・グラフィティ！ソウルフルなリズムにのって今日もオレたちの陽が昇る――」

Which may be translated as:

“Another now-generation American Graffiti discovered through the sweat and tears of youth! Riding a soulful rhythm, our sun rises again today—”

It is a design full of movement, colour, and period charm—deeply evocative of late-1970s urban American cinema as refracted through Japanese theatrical marketing.

Condition
Excellent condition. The poster presents very strongly overall, with rich colour, clean imagery, and excellent display appeal.

There may be light, expected signs of age and handling consistent with an original theatrical poster of this period, but overall it remains a highly attractive and well-preserved example.

Please review the photograph carefully, as it shows the exact poster for sale.

This is an original 1977 Japanese theatrical poster.
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.

It is now nearly 50 years old.

Certificate of Authenticity included.