Desk Set (1957)

Director:

Walter Lang

Writers:

Phoebe Ephron (screenplay) and
Henry Ephron (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 May 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Make the office a wonderful place to love in!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Research | Office | Computer | Christmas | Bathrobe

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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)
Jack G. Lee	...	Member of the Board (uncredited)
Renny McEvoy	...	Man (uncredited)
Martin Milner	...	Bit part (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)

Directed by
Walter Lang

Writing credits
Phoebe Ephron		(screenplay) and
Henry Ephron		(screenplay)
William Marchant		(play)

Produced by
Henry Ephron	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge

Cinematography by
Leon Shamroy

Film Editing by
Robert L. Simpson		(as Robert Simpson)

Art Direction by
Maurice Ransford
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Paul S. Fox
Walter M. Scott

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

Special Effects by
Ray Kellogg	....	special photographic effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde Taylor	....	gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant

Music Department
Lionel Newman	....	conductor
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Lawrence Carr	....	producer: play
Robert Fryer	....	producer: play

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)

Other Companies

• International Business Machines (IBM)  acknowledgment

Also Known As:

His Other Woman (UK)

Runtime:

103 min | Germany:98 min | Argentina:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (certificate #18461) | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:S | Argentina:Atp | UK:U

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Dina Merrill's first feature film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

Quotes:

Ruthie Saylor: [Talking about Richard Sumner as he tape measures the office] Do you think we're being redecorated?
Sylvia Blair: Does he look like an interior decorator to you?
Peg Costello: No. He looks like one of those men who suddenly switched to vodka!

Movie Connections:

References "Lassie" (1954)

Soundtrack:

Jingle Bells

Life before Google

This comedy keeps turning on cable any now and then. When faced with the prospect of watching substandard fare, the clear choice is to go to something that is amusing, as well as to entertaining, which is why "Desk Set" is a good bet to watch.

"Desk Set", directed by Walter Lang, evokes those bygone years before automation and the arrival of the computers into one's life. The comedy, adapted from the stage with great care by Henry and Phoebe Ephron, accomplishes all the requisites for a nice way to spend a couple of hours.

The time is the late 50s in Manhattan. The cost controlling expert, Richard Sumner, is hired to make changes in the way the New York firm can cut costs in all areas of business. Mr. Sumner's solution is to start automation in several areas, such as in the payroll department. He faces a formidable task when he takes to task making the research department more efficient, in the days before Google.

Mr. Sumner has to deal with the smart Bunny Watson, who has more facts and figures at her fingertips than any contraption could find at any given moment. Thus begins a tug of war between the man who is perceived as the "terminator of jobs" and the four women in research. They'll teach him a thing, or two.

The best part of the film is the interplay between the two principals, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. Its a tribute to them, as actors, they could work so well together. Also, toward the end of the movie, at the company's Christmas party, we see a playful, and drunk Bunny singing Cole Porter's "Night and Day" to the beat of the bongo playing of Richard Sumner. That scene shows a playful Katherine Hepburn having a great time in front of the cameras.

This delicious movie will certainly please anyone looking for a good time. Ms. Hepburn does excellent work as the spinsterish Bunny. Mr. Tracy is equally her match as the efficiency expert who is not in touch with reality.

The women in the research department, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill and Sue Radall, are quite good. Gig Young has the thankless task of being a man interested in Katherine Hepburn, when it's obvious her heart clearly belongs to Spencer Tracy.

Enjoy the movie, but better yet, enjoy the magic created by Kate and Spencer!