The film "9 to 5" became Dolly Parton's film debut
Singer Dolly Parton made her feature-film debut in 1980 in the comedy "9 to 5," playing Doralee Rhodes. The film, directed by Colin Higgins, tells the story of three office workers who stand up to their boss, Frank Hart, played by Dabney Coleman. As ABC News Australia reports, the role marked a successful transition for Parton from her music career to film-star status.
A comedy about office sexism
The idea for the film came from Jane Fonda, who also played one of the leading roles. Lily Tomlin and Parton appeared in the film alongside her. Fonda played Judy, a woman who is forced to look for work after years as a housewife. Tomlin and Parton portrayed her new colleagues.
In a 1980 interview, Parton said that before working on "9 to 5," she had never been on a film set. She learned the entire script, not knowing that the scenes would be filmed in separate fragments.
The film's heroines face sexual harassment, excessive workloads and unfair dismissal. In the end, they prevail over their boss. Jessica Ford, an expert in feminist media studies at the University of Adelaide, called this plot development atypical for mainstream cinema of that period, as the heroines are given the opportunity to punish their boss.
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Box-office success and the song
"9 to 5" grossed $103.3 million at the box office. Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars and specifically praised Parton's performance, calling her a natural-born movie star.
The film was later reinterpreted as a notable comedy about workplace sexism and female solidarity. Jane Mills, an author and lecturer at the University of New South Wales, noted that the picture combined humor, serious political themes and elements of eccentric comedy.
The song "9 to 5," which Parton wrote for the soundtrack, received an Academy Award nomination and several Grammy nominations. According to the singer, she recreated the rhythm of a typewriter in the composition by clicking her acrylic nails. The film also inspired a television series and a stage musical.
Colleagues' reactions
After Parton's death, her colleagues from "9 to 5" published posts on social media. Lily Tomlin shared joint photographs and wrote that she had no words. Jane Fonda called Parton a jokester, a visionary and a devoted friend, and urged her fans not to grieve but to celebrate her spirit.
