Dolly Parton never performed in concert in Downtown Memphis. But the beloved Tennessee entertainer's star power will light up South Main when the Orpheum's Halloran Centre hosts four — count 'em, four — screenings of the hit movie "9 to 5" on Friday, Sept. 25.
Call it "9 to 5 and Beyond." The screenings begin at 9 a.m., but continue until late night. Screening times are at 9 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Halloran at 225 S. Main.
Brett Batterson, president and CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group, said the screenings were organized to honor "a Tennessee icon."
“We are saddened by the loss of an amazing Tennessean, artist and legend,” he said. “We invite the community to watch one of her beloved films with us on Dolly Day.”
Released in 1980,
the PG-rated "9 to 5" was Parton's first and most successful movie, finishing second at the box office that year only to the first "Star Wars" sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back."
Directed by Colin Higgins and featuring a Parton theme song that topped both the country and pop charts, "9 to 5" remains timely, with Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda cast as disrespected and sexually harassed office workers who take revenge on their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot" of a boss, played by Dabney Coleman.
At one point, Parton tells Coleman that if he makes "another indecent proposal, I'm gonna get that gun of mine, and I'm gonna change you from a rooster to a hen with one shot!"
A country singer and committed philanthropist, Parton has been universally praised and mourned since her death on Aug. 25 at the age of 80, with revivals of her movies being a popular tribute.
On Sept. 4, Malco opened "Steel Magnolias" (1989) and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982) for a week's run at the Ridgeway, and also booked Sept. 5 screenings of those films at the Collierville and Desoto cinemas.
Meanwhile, in a demonstration of Parton's nationwide appeal, ABC hastily scheduled "9 to 5" for a primetime slot, airing the film at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30. The movie was a ratings smash, attracting to 4.3 million viewers. According to Variety it was the most-watched film on a broadcast network since December, 2022, and also the most-watched film on ABC since a December 2020 broadcast of another older move, "The Sound of Music."
"9 to 5" is not the first time the Orpheum Theatre Group has paid homage to a departed musical icon with a free movie. In 2016, the Orpheum hosted a screening of "Purple Rain," five days after the death of the movie's star, Prince. The movie packed the house with hundreds of fans.
Doors will open one hour before each screening for the free, general-admission Halloran screenings. For more information, visit orpheum-memphis.com.
John Beifuss is an entertainment writer at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at john.beifuss@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: See Dolly Parton's '9 to 5' for free at Memphis' Halloran Centre
