Desk Set (1957)

Two extremely strong personalities clash over the computerization of a TV network's research department.

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Phoebe Ephron (screenplay), Henry Ephron (screenplay),

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Gig Young

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Spencer Tracy	...	Richard Sumner
Katharine Hepburn	...	Bunny Watson
Gig Young	...	Mike Cutler
Joan Blondell	...	Peg Costello
Dina Merrill	...	Sylvia Blair
Sue Randall	...	Ruthie Saylor
Neva Patterson	...	Miss Warriner
Harry Ellerbe	...	Smithers
Nicholas Joy	...	Mr. Azae
Diane Jergens	...	Alice
Merry Anders	...	Cathy
Ida Moore	...	Old Lady
Rachel Stephens	...	Receptionist

Storyline

The mysterious man hanging about at the research department of a big TV network proves to be engineer Richard Sumner, who's been ordered to keep his real purpose secret: computerizing the office. Department head Bunny Watson, who knows everything, needs no computer to unmask Richard. The resulting battle of wits and witty dialogue pits Bunny's fear of losing her job against her dawning attraction to Richard.

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Plot Keywords:

research | office | computer | drinking | romantic misunderstanding | 

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Taglines:

Make the office a wonderful place to love in!

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cosas de mujeres

Filming Locations:

Rockefeller Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The sound effects created for EMARAC were re-used in numerous movies and TV series, notably Fantastic Voyage.

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Goofs

When Bunny Watson and Mr. Sumner are talking in the hallway shortly after they meet, she tells him that she doesn't smoke. But we see her starting to light a cigarette in her office, prompting Peg to comment that she only smokes when she is worried.

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Quotes

Sylvia Blair: What do you suppose it'll be like here next Christmas when we're gone? Do you think EMERAC will throw a party?
Ruthie Saylor: Oh, don't talk that way. It's bad luck to talk like that. It's Christmas!
Bunny Watson: It's Christmas.
Peg Costello: Well, if we do get canned, we won't be the only ones to lose our jobs because of a machine.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: "The filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of the International Business Machines Corporation."

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Connections

References Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Something's Gotta Give"
Written by Johnny Mercer

User Reviews

Trivial Pursuit with Emirac

Desk Set was the next to last teaming of Tracy and Hepburn and the first one away from MGM. It does have a different look to the product they did at MGM. Still good, but different. Probably because this was done in Cinemascope and Technicolor.

Hard to believe that Cinemascope would be used on a film essentially set indoors and on one set, the set being Hepburn's office. But that was to show the immense size of Emirac the giant computer being installed there which Katharine and her staff think is going to replace them.

Desk Set had been on Broadway two year ago and had a respectable run. It starred Shirley Booth in Katharine Hepburn's part and the rest of the cast were not names by any means. I'm sure Spencer Tracy's role had to be built up from the stage version.

Even so, the film is essentially Hepburn's. As usual in their films she has a rival to Tracy. In the past that part was played by such people as Melvyn Douglas, David Wayne, William Ching, and now Gig Young. It seemed like every movie comedy in the late 50s and early 60s had either Young or Tony Randall as the defeated rival role. Young gives his patented performance here.

A running gag throughout the film are the calls handled by Hepburn's staff at the broadcast network for inane information. Like someone up in the corporate headquarters is playing trivial pursuit.

Also look for good performances by Joan Blondell, Sue Randall, and Dina Merrill as Hepburn's staff and Neva Patterson as Emirac's installer and keeper.

A good addition to the Tracy-Hepburn pantheon.