Desk Set (1957)
Reference View | Change View
- Approved
- 1h 43min
- Comedy, Romance
- 02 Aug 1957 (West Germany)
- Movie
Two extremely strong personalities clash over the computerization of a television network's research department.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| 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
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Pamela Curran | ... |
Bit Part (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Bill Duray | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
|
|
Harry Evans | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
| Jesslyn Fax | ... |
Mrs. Hewitt (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Richard Gardner | ... |
Fred (uncredited)
|
|
|
Charles Heard | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
|
|
Joe Lanza | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jack G. Lee | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
| Renny McEvoy | ... |
Man (uncredited)
|
|
| Shirley Mitchell | ... |
Myra Smithers (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
King Mojave | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
|
|
Sammy Ogg | ... |
Kenny (uncredited)
|
| Don Porter | ... |
Elevator Operator Don (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Lou Southern | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
|
|
Hal Taggart | ... |
Member of the Board (uncredited)
|
|
|
Freda Angela Wyckoff | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
|
Directed by
| Walter Lang | ||
Written by
| Phoebe Ephron | ... | (screenplay) and |
| Henry Ephron | ... | (screenplay) |
| William Marchant | ... | (based on the play written by) |
Produced by
| Henry Ephron | ... | producer |
Music by
| Cyril J. Mockridge | ||
Cinematography by
| Leon Shamroy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Robert L. Simpson | ... | (as Robert Simpson) |
Editorial Department
| Leonard Doss | ... | color consultant |
| Lyman Hallowell | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Maurice Ransford | ||
| Lyle R. Wheeler | ||
Set Decoration by
| Paul S. Fox | ... | (set decorations) |
| Walter M. Scott | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Charles Le Maire | ... | executive wardrobe designer (as Charles LeMaire) |
Makeup Department
| Ben Nye | ... | makeup artist |
| Helen Turpin | ... | hair stylist |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Hal Herman | ... | assistant director |
Sound Department
| Harry M. Leonard | ... | sound |
| E. Clayton Ward | ... | sound |
Visual Effects by
| Ray Kellogg | ... | special photographic effects |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Clyde Taylor | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Sam Benson | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Lionel Newman | ... | conductor |
| Edward B. Powell | ... | orchestrator |
| Ken Darby | ... | vocal coach (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Lawrence Carr | ... | producer: play |
| Robert Fryer | ... | producer: play |
Production Companies
- Twentieth Century Fox (presents) (produced by)
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1957) (United States) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) (released by)
- 20th Century Fox (1957) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Centfox (1957) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Fox Film (1957) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1957) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century-Fox (1958) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Canale 5 (1984) (Italy) (tv)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1989) (Australia) (video)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (United States) (DVD) (widescreen)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (United States) (DVD)
- HanseSound (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
- HanseSound (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2013) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- CBS/Fox (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- WME Home Entertainment (2022) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Bausch & Lomb (CinemaScope lenses by)
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (color)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of: affiliated with A.F. of L.)
- International Business Machines (IBM) (we gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of)
- Twentieth Century Fox (CinemaScope is the registered trademark of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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.
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | 20th Century Fox Winkingly Introduces You to the Girls and Guys Who Make the Office Such a Wonderful Place to Love In! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Improvised Scene: Sumner is leaving Bunny's apartment, shortly after Mike leaves and Peg arrives, when Bunny and Sumner are recapping the afternoon's events for Peg. Sumner puts on the ruined shoes and grimaces as he tries to walk in them, which causes Bunny to laugh. He hobbles off stage and returns with his hat pulled down over his ears, his shirt dangling out of his pants, staggering as though drunk and talking crazy. This moment, including the women's hysterical laughter and Katharine Hepburn's nearly falling out of her chair, is spontaneous and not in the script. See more » |
| Goofs | In the opening shot of the film, at Rockefeller Center, the shot begins at ground level and tilts up the building, but it was clearly shot from the top of the building down to ground level and then reversed because all the people on the ground are walking backwards. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years (1997). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Hark! The Herald Angels Sing See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits: "The filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the cooperation and assistance of the International Business Machines Corporation." See more » |
| Quotes |
[Sumner answers the phone while the girls are at a Christmas party]
Richard Sumner: Hello? Santa Claus's reindeer? Uh, why yes I can... let's see, there's Dopey, Sneezy, Grouchy, Happy, Sleepy, uh Rudolph, and Blitzen! You're welcome! See more » |