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Desk Set is a 1957 American romantic comedy movie directed by Walter Lang and based on the 1955 play of the same name by William Marchant. It stars Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Dina Merrill and was distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Bunny Watson is a research librarian at the Federal Broadcasting Network in Midtown Manhattan. She leads a team that researches facts and answers questions for the network's programs, news, and advertising departments. Bunny has been dating network executive Mike Cutler for seven years, but he has not proposed marriage.
Richard Sumner, an engineer and efficiency expert, has invented EMERAC, a powerful early computer nicknamed "Emmy." He visits the library to study its work and prepare for the installation of the computer. Bunny is against the idea, while Richard is impressed by her intelligence and abilities. Her staff fears that the computer will take their jobs.
After Mike sees a misleading situation at Bunny's apartment, he realizes that Richard may be a romantic rival. He then decides that he wants to marry Bunny.
Bunny's fears seem to come true when she and her staff receive computer-printed layoff notices. However, the notices were a mistake: a new EMERAC computer in the payroll department has fired everyone in the company, including the president. The network had kept its plans secret because it was preparing for a merger. Instead of replacing the research staff, EMERAC is meant to help them handle their increased workload.
With the threat of losing their jobs gone, Richard tells Bunny that he loves her. Bunny worries that EMERAC will always be more important to him. To test him, she deliberately pushes the computer beyond its limits. Richard tries not to interfere, but eventually shuts it down. Bunny then accepts his proposal of marriage.
