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| 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, whose very existence could be responsible for her undoing at the office. |
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| Spencer Tracy (Richard Sumner): A computer engineer whose job it is to computerize the research department of a TV network. Love interest of Bunny Watson.
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| Katharine Hepburn (Bunny Watson): Head of the research department, she knows Richard’s true identity.
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| Gig Young (Mike Cutler): Bunny’s fiance, a chauvinistic corporate climber. |
| Joan Blondell (Peg Costello): Bunny’s assistant and friend, who provides unwavering support for her officemate.
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| At first glance, Desk Set may seem out of place in discussions of digital culture because it is a romantic comedy, but it is actually a very good film about computerization and how it can affect human interaction. It is particularly significant if we look at the age in which this movie was realized; computers were only starting to be implemented commercially, and many people were afraid of being displaced from their jobs by these computers, these gargantuan machines, ironically taking up entire rooms in the name of efficiency. Richard Sumner is one who believes that what he is doing is in the name of progress and efficiency, much like those scientists in other films and even real-life, who are driven by their desire to build and implement technology to serve human needs. The attitude that people had towards computers in this era was very similar to the attitude factory workers had towards their machines during the Industrial Revolution—this is an important historical parallel that we should be aware of. This film, though not impressive in its technology or focusing on technical issues, is nonetheless a light-hearted look at the changes which computerization brings. |
