Desk Set

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Desk Set: Trailer 1

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Cast

Spencer Tracy
as Richard Sumner

Katharine Hepburn
as Bunny Watson

Gig Young
as Mike Cutler

Joan Blondell
as Peg Costello

Dina Merrill
as Sylvia

Sue Randall
as Ruthie

Neva Patterson
as Miss Warringer

Harry Ellerbe
as Smithers

Nicholas Joy
as Azae

Diane Jergens
as Alice

Merry Anders
as Cathy

Ida Moore
as Old Lady

Rachel Stephens
as Receptionist

Sammy Ogg
as Kenny

King Mojave
as Board Member

Charles Heard
as Board Member

Harry Evans
as Board Member

Hal Taggart
as Board Member

Jack M. Lee
as Board Member

Bill Duray
as Board Member

Richard Gardner
as Fred

Renny McEvoy
as Man

Jesslyn Fax
as Mrs. Hewitt

Shirley Mitchell
as Myra Smithers

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News & Interviews for Desk Set

Critic Reviews for Desk Set

Audience Reviews for Desk Set

• Apr 15, 2016

  The script is clever, not great, the plot is cute, but not amazing, and the ending is predictable - but I like it anyway, and I've seen it several times over my life. For one thing, I've always liked the rooftop scene, where Spencer Tracy gives Katherine Hepburn a little intelligence test, complete with tricky riddles and difficult recall problems, and she effortlessly nails it, much to his surprise. She works phones with three other women in a reference library, the sort that people called back in the day pre-Internet, pre-Google, with questions ranging from the simple to the obscure. He's the inventor of the EMERAC, a computer or "electronic brain" as they put it, which threatens to take their jobs. Naturally, there is a question of her abilities vs. the computer's. On that note, it's fun to see the massive size of this computer and how it works in the movie, which aside from being a little silly, reflects how they were viewed in 1957. Oh, if only they could have known just how much computers would evolve, and change the world. The movie is refined and any age could watch it, but it does bring a smile to see various inappropriate behavior in the office, culminating in a pretty raucous Christmas party. I have to say, it's also great to see three of the main actors at ages you don't see much in these types of roles - Tracy (57), Hepburn (50), and Joan Blondell (51), who I've also been enjoying lately in her pre-Code roles from the early 1930's. I wish there were more movies like this! All three actors are a joy to watch.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Jul 04, 2011

  What I really appreciated in this movie was that Hepburn was like - what, 50? - and Tracy approaching 60, and they could still create a magic movie that never, ever alludes to their age (which modern studio execs, particularly Nancy Meyers, would absolutely leap on). Also, I think that Joan Blondell is a ton of fun. It's nice to know she held onto her spark til the end.
  Jennifer X Super Reviewer
• Nov 28, 2010

  The performances of Tracy and Hepburn - and sometimes the writing - make <i>Desk Set</i> an addictive watch, but to be totally frank it's also a pretty awful film and the computer angle must have seemed ridiculous even in 1957.
  Daniel P Super Reviewer
• Sep 05, 2010

  Even people today can relate to the problems of modernization in the workplace, which is what this movie deals with, but in a humourous way. Hepburn and Tracy are great together as always, and this movie is a lot of fun.
  Aj V Super Reviewer

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