The plot of 9 to 5 feels nothing short of radical, even (and perhaps especially) today. is played to smarmy mustachioed perfection by Dabney Coleman. Sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot boss Franklin Hart Jr. Fonda cast herself as the uncharacteristically mousy Judy Bernly, a nervous divorcee who can’t figure out who she is, never mind how to run the copy machine. The project was conceived of by Jane Fonda, who was inspired by the work of Karen Nussbaum, an old friend from the anti-war movement and founder of 9to5, an organization still in the business of advocating for working women. Tomlin stars as Violet Newstead, a working widow and mother of four who’s passed over for promotions despite her obvious qualifications. Released on December 19, 1980, the cult comedy 9 to 5 brought together Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin with Dolly Parton in her film debut as Miss Doralee Rhodes, a kind-hearted secretary who fantasizes about lassoing her “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss and roasting him on a spit. ‘9 to 5,’ stars Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda.