Introduction
Welcome to my corner! This week, I'm sharing my thoughts on the movie 9 to 5 in honor of Dolly Parton who died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at the age of 80. 9 to 5 is the quintessential Dolly Parton song and movie. Enjoy!
9 to 5
9 to 5 is a 1980 American comedy film directed by Colin Higgins from a screenplay by Higgins and Patricia Resnick. It stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton (in her film debut), Dabney Coleman Elizabeth Wilson and Sterling Hayden. In the film, three female office employees band together to seek revenge against their sexist and autocratic male boss.
Development on 9 to 5 began after Fonda formed the production company IPC Films, and was inspired by 1940s-era films which featured multiple female leads. The initial screenplay was written by Resnick as a drama, but after discussions between Tomlin and Fonda, Higgins was hired and adapted 9 to 5 from a drama to a comedy. Production was paused during rewrites, during which, the rest of the main cast was rounded out: 9 to 5 was a star vehicle for Parton, who was a successful musician prior to acting in the film. Principal photography took place primarily in Los Angeles. The film's theme song, performed by Parton, was released in November 1980.
9 to 5 was first theatrically released in the United States on December 19, 1980, by 20th Century Fox. Upon release, the film received mixed reviews from critics, with praise for Parton's performance but criticism for its plot. Its theme song was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, while Parton received two Golden Globe nominations, including for Best Actress. 9 to 5 has since received retrospective praise for its comedy and commentary on workplace sexism and women's labor. It grossed $103.3 million worldwide, and has also been adapted into both a television series and a musical. In April 2024, it was reported that a remake, produced by Jennifer Aniston, is in development.
Plot: Office satire about three female secretaries who decide to get revenge on their tyrannical, sexist boss by abducting him and running the business themselves. The trio, one of whom has been passed over for promotion because she is a woman, spend a night together having drug-induced fantasies of killing the slave-driving chauvinist. One of them panics the following day when she suspects she really has poisoned the tyrant.
Acting: My favorite title is 9 to 5 for the following actors, if not stated otherwise.
Jane Fonda played Judy Bernly, a new employee for whom Consolidated is her first job after being a housewife. She is forced to get a job after her husband leaves her for his young secretary, with whom he cheated on Judy. Soon after starting work, she became friends with Violet and Doralee. Her four most notable titles currently include Klute, Barbarella, Coming Home, and They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. My favorite is the Grace and Frankie Netflix series. I thought Jane was very cute in 9 to 5.
Lily Tomlin played Violet Newstead, a widow with four kids who has been working at Consolidated for 12 years. Despite being very knowledgeable about the company and having once trained him, Hart treats her like a secretary and gives a promotion she wanted to a man. She is the most senior supervisor on her floor and becomes responsible for training Judy, whom she eventually befriends. Her four most notable titles currently are Nashville, Grandma, 9 to 5, and All of Me. My favorite is the Grace and Frankie Netflix series. Lily is a comedy star that shines in 9 to 5.
Dolly Parton played Doralee Rhodes, Frank Hart's attractive, married secretary whom he consistently flirts with and sexually harasses. He also gives her presents and tells Violet they are for his wife, and spreads an untrue rumor that he and Doralee are having an affair, resulting in the staff shunning her. Her four most notable titles include 9 to 5 and television series, Dolly (1976-77), Dolly (1987-88) and The Porter Wagner Show. Dolly was great in her film debut. A great actress and singer.
Dabney Coleman played Franklin M. Hart Jr., a Vice President of Consolidated Companies who is the boss of Judy, Violet, Roz and Doralee. Despite being married, he is not shy about flirting or sexually harassing other women, especially Doralee, and refers to the secretaries on his floor as his "girls". He also steals an idea from Violet and tries to embezzle from Consolidated. His four most notable titles are WarGames, 9 to 5, Tootsie, and You've Got Mail.
Minor roles were played by Sterling Hayden as Russell Tinsworthy, Consolidated Companies' chairman of the board who is mostly away working on a jungle clearance project in Brazil; Elizabeth Wilson as Roz, Hart's sycophantic, loyal administrative personal assistant who constantly eavesdrops on the other staff and reports what she learns to Hart; Henry Jones as Mr. Hinkle, the President of Consolidated Companies who Hart works under and answers to Tinsworthy; Lawrence Pressman as Dick, Judy's ex-husband; Marian Mercer as Missy Hart, Franklin's sweet-natured wife who adores him and is oblivious to his cheating; Renn Woods as Barbara, one of Judy and Violet's co-workers; Norma Donaldson as Betty, another co-worker that has children who Judy befriends; Jeffrey Douglas Thomas as Dwayne Rhodes, Doralee's husband; Peggy Pope as Margaret Foster, an alcoholic secretary whom others refer to as "the old lush"; Richard Stahl as Meade; Ray Vitte as Eddie, a friend of Violet's who works in the company mail room, but aspires to become an executive; and Early Boen as Perkins.
Background information from American Film Institute (AFI): The following acknowledgement appears in the end credits: "The Producer gratefully acknowledges the help and encouragement of Working Women, the National Association of Office Workers in the making of this film."
A Apr 5, 1983 LAHExam article reported that husband and wife songwriters, Neil and Jan Goldberg, who had once worked for California State Assemblyman Tom Hayden's election campaign, filed a lawsuit alleging Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and her husband, Hayden, plagiarized the chorus of their song "Money World" to compose "Nine To Five." The suit, filed Apr 1, 1983 in L.A. Superior Court, asked for $1 million in punitive damages, and additional unspecified damages for "alleged copyright infringement" and "intentional infliction of emotional distress." A Dec 4, 1985 Daily Variety (DV) news brief stated that the plaintiffs sought a portion of the profits from the film, film soundtrack and spin-off television series. Articles in the Dec 6, 1985 DV and the Dec 11, 1985 Variety reported that Hayden denied opening a package sent by the Goldbergs containing a record album with the track "Money World." Parton maintained that her song sounded nothing like the Goldbergs, and played a few bars in court to illustrate her point. A Dec 14, 1985 Los Angeles Times (LAT) articles stated that the Goldbergs rejected a "very, very small" settlement offered by Parton to end the lawsuit out of court. According to a Dec 16, 1985 Hollywood Reporter (HR) article, Parton admitted that both songs shared a sequence of five notes also seen in popular songs such as The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There," and "Ease On Down The Road," from the Broadway musical The Wiz. LAT reported that after 35 minutes of deliberation at the conclusion of the two-week trial, the jury voted in favor of Parton, ruling out plagiarism charges against the singer. News items in the Jan 14, 1986 DV and LAT reported that although the Goldbergs' sought a new plagiarism trial, U.S. District Court Judge Terry J. Hatter denied their motion.
My favorite scene was Violet stealing the dead body that she thought was Mr. Hart from the hospital and the other two girls are just along for the ride. I also love that all of their dream/fantasy sequences came true throughout the movie to an extent.
My favorite quote is "But I'll tell you one thing: If you ever say another word about me or make another indecent proposal, I'm gonna get that gun of mine... And, I'm gonna change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot!" —Doralee Rhodes
Rated: PG
Where to watch it: According to Google, 9 to 5 is currently available on Tubi for free or Hulu, Disney+, Netflix, fuboTV, YouTubeTV and SlingTV with a subscription. You can also purchase or rent a digital copy for a few dollars. I've also donated a DVD copy of the film to the Emil M. Larson Public Library in Clark for you all to enjoy if you choose to.
