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Desk Set (1957)

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.

Directed by Walter Lang
Writing credits: William Marchant, Phoebe Ephron, Henry Ephron

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
Bill Duray ....  Member of the Board
Harry Evans ....  Member of the Board
Jesslyn Fax ....  Mrs. Hewitt
Richard Gardner ....  Fred
Charles Heard ....  Member of the Board
Jack G. Lee ....  Member of the Board
Renny McEvoy ....  Man
Martin Milner ....  Bit part
Shirley Mitchell ....  Myra Smithers
King Mojave ....  Member of the Board
Sammy Ogg ....  Kenny
Don Porter ....  Elevator operator Don
Lou Southern ....  Dancer
Hal Taggart ....  Member of the Board

Produced by Henry Ephron ....  producer
Original Music by Cyril J. Mockridge
Cinematography by Leon Shamroy
Film Editing by Robert L. Simpson
Art Direction by Maurice Ransford, Lyle R. Wheeler
Set Decoration by Paul S. Fox, Walter M. Scott
Costume Design by Charles Le Maire
Makeup Department Ben Nye ....  makeup artist
Sound Department Harry M. Leonard ....  sound engineer
E. Clayton Ward ....  sound engineer
Special Effects by Ray Kellogg ....  special effects
Other crew Lionel Newman ....  conductor
Edward B. Powell ....  orchestrator
   
Also Known As:His Other Woman (UK)
Runtime: 103 min / Germany:98 min / Argentina:102 min
Country: USA
Language: English
Color: Color (DeLuxe)
Sound Mix: Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification: Finland:S / Argentina:Atp / UK:U

Trivia: This is the first film that Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn did
in color and the 8th of the nine films where they starred together.

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.
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.
Continuity: During the question session on the rooftop, Bunny tears her roast beef
sandwich down the middle twice, although at the end of the session, the sandwich
is complete and still in the wax paper.
Continuity: During the question session on the roof, Bunny reaches for the roast
beef sandwich, then takes off her gloves, then reaches for the sandwich again.
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Reference
librarian Miss Costello (Joan Blondell) says, in response to a question about baseball
star Ty Cobb, "He played only with the Detroit Tigers for 21 years." In fact, Cobb
played major league baseball for 24 years - 22 years with the Tigers and two years
with the Philadelphia Athletics.
Continuity: Mike Cutler gives Bunny Watson some flowers. As she takes them home
at the end of the day, the flowers are a different color when she gets off the elevator
than they were when she got on.

Quotes: Richard Sumner: That's correct! Bunny Watson: Yes, I know.

Tagline: Make the office a wonderful place to love in!

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