We took out a lot of stuff that was filmed, even stuff the director, Colin Higgins, thought worked but which I asked to have taken out. My part and [Lily’s] part and [Jane’s] part and Dabney’s part. They became two of my good friends, you know.”, When 9 to 5 premiered on December 19, 1980, Dolly Parton was already a major country music star, but she was a Hollywood newcomer. Barry from Sauquoit, Ny On February 21st, 1980 "9 to 5" reached No. Often surrounded in a burst of sunlight or a triangle, an eye typically represents the all-seeing eye of God and could denote that the decedent was a Freemason. "I'm working with the writers, with Lily, and talking to the writers," Jane said. “We tried for a long time for a sequel," Tomlin told Buzz Worthy in 2012. Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter. Maybe, but not necessarily. Released in theaters on December 19, 1980, 9 to 5 earned more than $100 million at the box office and became the second highest-grossing movie that year, trailing only Star Wars: Episode V - … Allison Janney played Tomlin’s part, Stephanie J. In the final version of the song, you can hear her acrylic fingernails as part of the percussion section. “I'd worked for seven months on that movie, so I was ready to just shut my eyes to anything else.” It was Tomlin’s wife, Jane Wagner, who changed her mind. 1 for one week; then "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbitt moved into the top spot for two weeks. It might represent other kinds of grain. The film's theme song, performed by Parton, took on a life of its own. An open book on a tombstone might refer to a sacred text like the Bible, the “book of life,” or the person’s willingness to learn. If it’s flying down, it represents the Holy Spirit arriving at the baptism of Jesus Christ. Parton’s fingernails also became part of her defense when she was sued by Neil and Janice Goldberg in 1983, who claimed that the singer copied their 1976 song, “Money World.” “I worked on the song at my hotel,” Parton testified in 1985. The meaning of a book on a tombstone isn't always easy to read. A dove usually symbolizes peace and the Holy Spirit, but its specific meaning depends on how the bird is posed. 01793 325013. In fact, it’s a rarity. If the chain is unbroken and if it features the letters FLT (for Friendship, Love, and Truth), it probably means the deceased belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization that seeks to promote charitable causes and offer aid. And I've always been attracted to those 1940s films with three female stars.”, Though it’s ranked number 74 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 100 Funniest American Movies of All Time, 9 to 5 didn’t start out as a comedy. An hourglass on its end may mean the deceased died suddenly, while a winged hourglass communicates how quickly time flies. During a 2009 appearance on The View, Parton shared that she composed the song using her fingernails, which to the singer-songwriter sounded like a typewriter. Simply head here to find dozens of T-shirts with all sorts of unique designs to choose from, whether you’re in the market for a pi pun, a risqué grammar joke, or something only your fellow bookworms will appreciate. “For years there was talk of a sequel or a remake, but as Dolly always says, ‘It's 9 to 5, not 95!’ Doing a remake with them, that ship has probably sailed.”. In the spring of 1980, seven months before the debut of 9 to 5, Sheena Easton released a song titled “9 to 5” in the U.K. By the time the song made its way to American radio listeners in February of 1981, its title had been changed to “Morning Train (Nine to Five)” in order to avoid any confusion with Parton’s song. See also List of quest release dates About “9 to 5” “9 to 5” was the theme song to the 1980 film Nine to Five , a story of gender inequality in the workplace. I just want them to try! “In that case, a very old friend of mine had started an organization in Boston called 'Nine To Five,’ which was an association of women office workers. We really wanted them, but we did have some backup ideas in case they turned us down. Scrolls on a tombstone can refer to an unknown future. Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning; Gardening and Grounds Maintenance If one hand is higher than the other, it could also mean that a person is being welcomed by a loved one or a higher power. Parton starred in this film along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. And part of what made her perfect for the role was “her music. "There were two or three scripts but they weren't what we wanted. It may also be construed as a message to the living—time is short, so don’t waste it. See also List of quest release dates About “9 to 5” “9 to 5” was the theme song to the 1980 film Nine to Five , a story of gender inequality in the workplace. A handshake can mean a greeting to eternal life. Dolly Parton in a scene from the 1980 comedy 9 to 5. But then when Colin came in, he was very influenced by Warner Bros. cartoons and things like that, and so their attempts to kill him became the fantasy scenes, and he made it a much broader comedy.”, Just because a writer has a particular actor in mind when writing a script doesn’t mean he or she will end up playing the part. But dolly reclaimed #1 for one more week!!! It is a comedy, but at the end they hang him. Fonda agreed, and Parton wrote the song while the movie was filming. “My partner Jane said to me, ‘This is the biggest mistake of your life.’ She said, ‘You've got to get on the phone and tell Jane Fonda you want to take back the resignation … And I am grateful that I did it. ", “People would love to see the three of them together again,” Resnick told Rolling Stone. In honor of its 35th anniversary, here are 14 things you might not know about the Oscar-nominated film. Accompanying the inscriptions of names, dates, and family crests are some common symbols that crop up repeatedly on tombstones. The film's theme song, performed by Parton, took on a life of its own. So when she got the script for the film, she assumed that she had to memorize every word of every character’s part. And if you use the code FLOSSERS at checkout by end of day Sunday, you'll get 20 percent off your order. If you’re just in the mood to express your love of all things Mental Floss, you can also get our darling little logo on phone cases, tote bags, mugs, baby bibs, and more. But I had Dolly, Lily and Jane in my head the whole time, and we were really hoping that's who it was going to be.”, Though the role of Violet Newstead was written specifically for Tomlin, the legendary actress and comedian turned down the part when it was first offered to her. The hand engraving grew into wide use during the Victorian era. Head on over to the Mental Floss Store to see our entire collection. In February 1981, it was released in the United States and Canada under the title "Morning Train (9 to 5)" to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's recent hit "9 to 5". It might be pointing to heaven, or indicate the fact that the decedent has risen from the land of the living. The song was Easton’s biggest hit. Ears of corn could mean the deceased was a farmer. The song was released as a single in November 1980. Whether you think of it as a statement on female empowerment or simply a fun workplace comedy, the 1980 hit 9 to 5—which featured Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton as a trio of secretaries who turn the tables on their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" boss (Dabney Coleman)—is a bona fide comedy classic. Was the deceased an avid reader? "At first we were going to make a drama,” Fonda explained. Considering its popularity with audiences, it’s hardly surprising that studio heads were interested in prepping a sequel. The workplace comedy was a hit with audiences, earning more than $100 million at the box office—a grand total that made it the second biggest hit of 1980 (only The Empire Strikes Back made more). I'm just super-sensitive to anything that smacks of the soapbox or lecturing the audience.”, “I had written a very dark comedy in which the secretaries actually tried to kill the boss, although they tried to kill him in sort of funny ways,” screenwriter Patricia Resnick told Rolling Stone. Sign Up Today: Get exclusive deals, product news, reviews, and more with the Mental Floss Smart Shopping newsletter! “9 to 5” was the theme song to the 1980 film Nine to Five, a story of gender inequality in the workplace.