Desk Set

Now Playing

1h 43m

Romance

Comedy

TRAILER

for Desk Set: Trailer 1

List

100%

24 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) is a library reference clerk stuck in a dead-end relationship with a boring television executive (Gig Young). Her life is thrown into turmoil when computer expert Richard Summers (Spencer Tracy) enters it. He has been assigned with automating her department, and she is fearful that Summers' new computers will automate her out of a job. She despises him at first, but eventually each of the two start to fall for the other's charms and strong personalities.

Read More

Read Less

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

In Theaters

Fandango at Home

Prime Video

Rent Desk Set on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

Critics Consensus

Desk Set reunites one of cinema's most well-loved pairings for a solidly crafted romantic comedy that charmingly encapsulates their timeless appeal.

Read Critics Reviews

jarrod r

I'm a librarian, so it's part of the "required viewing"

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

What film are people watching? There is not much of a story and you know the depth of each character within seconds of meeting them. Basically, Hepburn is a walking and talking human computer and Tracy is a bumbling older man who is supposed to be the world’s top computer innovator. Looking for some laughs and romance - check out the pair’s many other films. You won’t find it here.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/05/22

Full Review

deke p

CLASSIC, cuz STARS, & who can remember they actual had COMPUTERS in 1957!! Like UNIVAC! WALL size, with flashing lights, beep bop boops, & spinning tape reels. 1/4/2022 on the MOVIE CHANEL. Note to sef, really shd to watch a once agin star to fin

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ionut m

A perfect movie for Christmas time.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie! Hepburn and Tracy are always worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

steve d

The charms of its stars carry the film.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Walter Lang

Director

Spencer Tracy

Richard Sumner

Katharine Hepburn

Bunny Watson

Gig Young

Mike Cutler

Joan Blondell

Peg Costello

Dina Merrill

Sylvia Blair

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

83%

84%

Two for the Road

64%

72%

Houseboat

25%

43%

Love Potion No. 9

94%

87%

Pillow Talk

78%

70%

That Touch of Mink

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

10 Great Movie Christmas Parties

Kim Newman on… The Invisible Boy

Desk Set: Trailer 1

2:18

View more videos

View more photos

Mark Chalon Smith

Los Angeles Times

[I]t's still a witty, often diverting romantic comedy that further demonstrates how well the duo fit.

Jan 25, 2019

Full Review

Gwen Ihnat

AV Club

Drunken Christmas office parties and antiquated technology notwithstanding, the real fun in Desk Set is watching these two pros and longtime loves play off of each other for one of their final cinematic turns together.

Jan 25, 2019

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

[Miss Hepburn and Mr. Tracy] can tote phone books on their heads or balance feathers on their chins and be amusing -- which is about the size of what they do here.

Rated: 3.5/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Moira Walsh

America Magazine

It has, however, some notable advantages [over the stage version] in the shape of Miss Katherine Hepburn in the leading role (with Spencer Tracy thrown in for good measure opposite her).

Jul 14, 2021

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

The Broadway comedy of two seasons ago has been turned into a somewhat draggy but pleasant movie.

Nov 13, 2019

Full Review

Rachel Wagner

rachelsreviews.net

It doesn't have the emotional heft of something like The Apartment but it's a delightful little comedy with a hint of Christmas in it for the holidays.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 6, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) is a library reference clerk stuck in a dead-end relationship with a boring television executive (Gig Young). Her life is thrown into turmoil when computer expert Richard Summers (Spencer Tracy) enters it. He has been assigned with automating her department, and she is fearful that Summers' new computers will automate her out of a job. She despises him at first, but eventually each of the two start to fall for the other's charms and strong personalities.

Director: Walter Lang
Screenwriter: Henry Ephron, Phoebe Ephron
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 1h 43m

Most Popular at Home Now