Desk Set (1957): Cast & Plot
Desk Set is a 1957 romantic comedy directed by Walter Lang, starring Katharine Hepburn as Bunny Watson, Gig Young and Spencer Tracy. It runs 1 hour 43 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 43m (103 min)
- Director
- Walter Lang
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Desk Set About?
The premise of Desk Set without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In a bustling office where the camaraderie of the women and men makes the workplace feel like a community, a tech‑savvy employee builds a sophisticated computer system. He is determined to prove his ‘electronic brain’ can take over the research staff of a television network, testing the limits of man versus machine.
Desk Set Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- computer
- research
- television network
- intelligence analysis
- library
- christmas
- reference to ty cobb
- red roses
- reciting poetry
- cigarette smoking
- telephone
- telephone call
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to james whitcomb riley
- reference to henry wadsworth longfellow
- reference to a zodiac sign
- horoscope
- astrology
- reference to astrology
- reference to sagittarius the astrological sign
- reference to gemini the constellation
- zodiac sign
- based on a stage play
- reference to napoleon bonaparte
- actor recreates his stage role
- tracy and hepburn
- sagittarius the astrological sign
- gemini the astrological sign
- strong
- new york
- united states of america
- christmas film
- christmas movie
- efficiency
- efficiency expert
- research and development department
- office
- redheaded woman
- male female relationship
- hacking
- hacker
- rockefeller center manhattan new york city
- manhattan new york city
- fired from a job
- drinking
- word association
- romantic misunderstanding
- riddle
- new york city
- monogram
- massachusetts institute of technology
Desk Set Cast & Characters
Katharine Hepburn leads the cast as Bunny Watson, with Gig Young as Mike Cutler and Spencer Tracy as Richard Sumner. Directed by Walter Lang; 29 actors are credited in all.
- Director Walter Lang
-
Katharine Hepburn as Bunny Watson -
Gig Young as Mike Cutler -
Spencer Tracy as Richard Sumner -
Joan Blondell as Peg Costello
Also Starring in Desk Set
· 25 more- Hal Taggart Member of the Board (uncredited)
- Don Porter Don the Elevator Operator (uncredited)
- Merry Anders Cathy
- Ida Moore Old Lady
- Dina Merrill Sylvia Blair
- King Mojave Member of the Board (uncredited)
- Jesslyn Fax Mrs. Hewitt (uncredited)
- Nicholas Joy Mr. Azae
- Neva Patterson Miss Warriner
- Renny McEvoy Man (uncredited)
- Harry Evans Member of the Board (uncredited)
- Harry Ellerbe Smithers
- Shirley Mitchell Myra Smithers (uncredited)
- Sammy Ogg Kenny (uncredited)
- Diane Jergens Alice
- Joe Lanza Dancer (uncredited)
Show all 29 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Rachel Stephens Receptionist
- Richard Gardner Fred (uncredited)
- Charles Heard Member of the Board (uncredited)
- Pamela Curran Woman (uncredited)
- Sue Randall Ruthie Saylor
- Bill Duray Member of the Board (uncredited)
- Lou Southern Dancer (uncredited)
- Freda Angela Wyckoff Dancer (uncredited)
- Jack G. Lee Member of the Board (uncredited)
Desk Set Plot Summary
What happens in Desk Set from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Bunny Watson [Katharine Hepburn] is the sharp, quick-witted documentalist in charge of the reference library at the Federal Broadcasting Network in Midtown Manhattan, where a team of librarians tackles every question from the public, big or small, with cases solved and referenced with calm efficiency. At the center of this world is Bunny’s long-running romance with Mike Cutler [Gig Young], a rising network executive who dreams of climbing higher, even if marriage isn’t on the horizon yet. The dynamic between Bunny and Mike is seasoned by years of familiarity and a subtle tension, set against the hum of a busy city and the steady tap of typewriters.
Full summary
The whole story of Desk Set, scene by scene
Desk Set Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Desk Set.
How Well Do You Know Desk Set?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress portrays the sharp-witted documentalist Bunny Watson?
Cars in Desk Set
1 car on screen: the 1951 Chevrolet Styleline.
-
1951 Chevrolet Styleline
Desk Set Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Une femme de tête” and “Eine Frau, die alles weiß”.
- Also known as
-
- Une femme de tête
- Eine Frau, die alles weiß
- La segretaria quasi privata
- Su otra esposa
- A Mulher Que Sabe Tudo
- Žena, která všechno ví
- A tudás irodája
- Кабинетный гарнитур
- Комплект за бюро
- Amor Eletrônico
- Cosas de mujeres
- 电脑风云
+3 more Show fewer
- Kvinnans svaga punkt
- 사랑의 전주곡
- おー! ウーマンリブ
Seen Desk Set?
Movies Like Desk Set
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Set It Up, New Desk and Romantic Comedy.
Desk Set FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Desk Set, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Desk Set?
Desk Set runs 1 hour 43 minutes (103 minutes).
When was Desk Set released?
Desk Set was released on May 15, 1957.
Who directed Desk Set?
Desk Set was directed by Walter Lang.
More films by Walter Lang Who is in the cast of Desk Set?
Desk Set stars Katharine Hepburn as Bunny Watson, Gig Young as Mike Cutler and Spencer Tracy as Richard Sumner, among 29 credited actors.
Does Desk Set have a post-credit scene?
No. Desk Set has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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