80sfilms

In 1988, working girls everywhere rejoiced as Working Girl splashed across the big screen, portraying the story of a struggling executive assistant with high aspirations.

The film starred Melanie Griffith as said assistant, Tess McGill, who when she tires of being sexually harassed by her male coworkers, quits and seeks employment from a woman.

That woman, Katherine Parker (played by the uber-cool, scene-stealing Sigourney Weaver), is a narcissist with a cute, slightly dopey boyfriend, Jack Trainer (played by Harrison Ford), and a penchant for claiming other people’s great ideas as her own.

When Weaver’s character breaks her leg in another country, Griffith’s steps in to run the show, and in the process meets Ford’s character, and the pair share sparks, both personally and professionally.

Working Girl was well received in theaters and was even nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Griffith), and Best Supporting Actress (both Weaver and the always quirky-funny Joan Cusack). The only award Working Girl took home was for Carly Simon’s song “Let the River Run”, which is also one of her best. 

Director Mike Nichols did a great job with this fun, flirty look at climbing the corporate ladder, and the fact that he allowed New York City itself to become a character only enhances viewing pleasure. Nichols also directed the films Biloxi Blues (1988), Heartburn (1986) and Silkwood (1983).

Ford enjoyed great success in the 80s in films such as Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Frantic (1988), The Mosquito Coast (1986), Witness (1985), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983), Blade Runner (1982), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

Weaver can also be seen in Ghostbusters (1984), Deal of the Century (1983), The Year of Living Dangerously (1982), Aliens (1986) and Ghostbusters II (1989).

Working Girl also costarred Alec Baldwin, who was in Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Talk Radio (1988), Married to the Mob (1988), Beetle Juice (1988) and She’s Having a Baby (1988); as well as Joan Cusack; Oliver Platt; Kevin Spacey; Olympia Dukakis; and David Duchovny.

Working Girl is a feel-good 80s film that’s flirty, fun and fabulous. Think empowering, pre-”Sex and the City”–but with less sex and more work. 

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