Working Nine to Five

"9 to 5" (1980) is one of those comic gems that you can watch over and over again. It has all of the elements that I love in a movie: a tight script, fab casting, and laughs that continue to build as the plot progresses. Dolly Parton burst onto the screen with her typical charm, making a very impressive film debut that catapulted her into the number one spot for Female Box Office Draw of 1981-1982.



Take a look at the office equipment on Dolly's desk:



At times, "9 to 5" seems a bit dated, as (thankfully) women have come a long way in the business world since this movie was made. On the flip side, the antiquated machinery adds a bit of nostalgia while the film shows us just how far equality has progressed in the last 30+ years.



When the three girls forge a friendship and join forces in a dive bar, the film really starts to hum.



Fonda steals the show as scorned housewife Judy; her progression from scared and flustered secretary to confident independent businesswoman is totally believable.



I was able to catch one of the initial performances of the stage musical version back in 2008; although enjoyable, without the original cast of Parton, Tomlin, Fonda, and Dabney Coleman, it lost a lot of its punch. Over the years, the three lead actresses have mentioned their interest in doing a sequel...oh the possibilities!

See more "9 to 5" photos on my Movie & TV photo web page.