1980 9 to 5

The 80's was a great era for comedy, in all forms. We had the zany comedy of Airplane!; the teen comedies of John Hughes and the more lively SNL inspired movies. Yet they were all dominated by men, a serious 80's trait that took decades to change (if it actually has).

Jane Fonda, a prolific actor and more prolific activist for feminist rights as much as other things, was fast becoming a voice for women in movies and producing her own films. 9 to 5 is one of them, and the fact it was so successful is testament to the simple fact that audiences want variety, something studio bosses, even now, seem to ignore.

This comedy stars Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton, making her big screen debut. Tomlin was an SNL stalwart and had beautiful comic timing. The three of these women together were dynamite, and, bouyed by Dolly Parton's songs for the film, audiences loved it.

They play 3 office workers taking on their chauvinist boss, played by another 80's face, Dabney Coleman. It originally started as an idea for a drama by Jane Fonda, but she is quoted as saying the more serious it was the more preachy it seemed. Comedy has been used for years as a way of getting a point over without feeling as if the audience are being taught a lesson, and for this movie about the rights of women and their treatment in the workplace, it worked a treat.

The movie made $103m at the US box office that year. It then launched into a television series for five seasons and in 2000 became a stage musical with new material written by Dolly Parton. The movie launched Parton as a cultural icon, which has stuck with her since.

Lily Tomlin went on to star in All of Me, with Steve Martin. An excellent movie that sadly did not play well with audiences and disappears. She is excellent, sharp and witty. Check it out once you've had a joy watching this classic.

The soundtrack is something I cannot find for the original film, so below is a link to the recent musical adaptation from London's West End.