IMDb > Desk Set (1957)
Desk Set
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Desk Set (1957) -- Trailer for this classic directed by Walter Lang

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   2,647 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Phoebe Ephron (screenplay) and
Henry Ephron (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Desk Set on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 May 1957 (USA) more
Genre:
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. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
User Comments:
I adore this movie. more (68 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (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:
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)
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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
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
His Other Woman (UK)
more
Runtime:
103 min | Germany:98 min | Argentina:102 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo | Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (certificate #18461) | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:S | Argentina:Atp | UK:U

Fun Stuff

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. Tracy goes "offstage" 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 Hepburn's literally falling out of her chair, is not in the script. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Before Bunny Watson turns to ask Richard Sumner her question during the Christmas party, she puts the bottle on the desk, but in the next shot, she is holding it again. more
Quotes:
Bunny Watson: Have some tequila, Peg.
Peg Costello: I don't think I should. There are 85 calories in a glass of champagne.
Bunny Watson: I have a little place in my neighborhood where I can get it for 65.
more
Movie Connections:
References "Lassie" (1954) more
Soundtrack:
Night and Day more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
32 out of 40 people found the following comment useful.
I adore this movie., 2 May 2001
10/10
Author: budmassey (cyberbarrister@gmail.com) from Indianapolis, IN

It comes as no surprise that the 30-second attention span generation finds this jewel a little dull. There is no quick-cut music video cinematography. The characters are all actually old enough to be believable in their roles. which are not based on clothing or haircuts. It depends on talent rather than hype. And most of all, it is far too intelligent, witty and literate for today's garbage-numbed Philistine.

The story is simple, as all good stories are. Hepburn feels her job, and those of her staff, are threatened by Tracy and his ominous computer. It may not sound like much in this day of computer ubiquity, but substitute dot.com flop or outsourcing for computer and you have a contemporary comedy that still works.

Let's ignore the leads for just a moment. The supporting cast, which includes Joan Blondell as the arch-typical right-hand man, or should I say woman, and Gig Young as the chauvinistic, corporate climbing fiancé, easily outclasses what passes for marquee stars today. Husband and wife team Henry and Phoebe Ephron, parents of Nora Ephron, contribute a brilliantly witty script that, unfortunately for modern moviegoers, isn't peppered with vaudevillian pratfalls to help point out the funny parts. Instead, it relies on the intelligence of the audience and draws on that of the cast to produce a humor that never ages.

Hepburn is almost universally considered the greatest film actress ever. Tracy is utterly magnificent, and the chemistry between the two of them, owing of course in part to their long-standing relationship, is palpable.

I adore this movie, and if there were a Canon of Cinema, this would be in it.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Desk Set (1957)
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Your favorite line krains
'Mexican Avenue Bus'... mcwhat-1
Uncharacteristicall y Bad Acting/Direction Littlelep
Richard Sumner's absent-minded behavior arkansasengineer
Pan and scan - vmwrites
On Golden Pond Reference to Desk Set Character jobie123
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