Talk:Desk Set

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Isis, I feel that you must prove that this film is considered propagandistic via some means. I am a librarian, have seen the film, and did not come away with your views. If you can state that there has some discussion of this, then I won't feel like removing those paragraphs stating the impression of a pro-computer sentiment of this vintage motion picture --Two Halves


 * Do a Google search on the title and 'review' to see some of the pages I based my draft on. They use more modern terms than the word "propaganda," like "product placement," to discuss the effect the film was supposed to have of diffusing anxiety about computers, and if you have a problem with that word, then please change it to something you can live with, but I don't think you can disagree with the librarians and computer folks who wrote those essays explaining what a positive light the film deliberately shed on those occupations. -- isis 07:00 Jan 5, 2003 (UTC)

With all the recent discussion of the use of copyrighted images in the Wikipedia, I am not sure if the image contained in the article should be continued to be displayed. I would like to get other opinions, however. Please feel free to respond at will. --Two halves 05:40 Feb 16, 2003 (UTC)


 * I think it's been decided that showing video covers is covered under Fair Use. -- Zoe

2006 - Whoever wrote the section of Katharine and George Cukor must either be pretty clueless or pulling somebody's leg. Cukor was gay - he had absolutely no sexual interest in Katharine - this has been documented in at least two reputable biographies 9 (George Cukor - a double life) but they were very good friends for over 50 years. When Katharine and Spencer met each other it was Cukor who offered Spencer a cottage for rent on his estate - eventually Katharine moved in with Spencer in the 1960's and it was in the cottage that Spencer died.

I find it difficult to see why critics will have a hard time with Bunny's dual behaviors. It's mentioned in the article that it's unrealistic that Bunny Watson is all goo-goo about Mike Cutler while still being incredibly capable. Even some incredibly intelligent women were socialized in those times to believe that marriage (and children) was a vastly preferable existence. Even today, there are plenty of traditionalists who still believe the same thing. Theoriste 01:44, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

Filmed in color or colorized?
I just watched this on DVD. My initial guess was that it was filmed in B&W and colorized, but maybe not? Anybody know for sure? -- RoySmith (talk) 20:13, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

I've seen an old print in a theater, and this was made in color; it's the first color Tracy/Hepburn film.64.131.229.210 04:21, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

"Views of Desk Set"
Does anyone know who these critics are? This section appears to be unsourced POV, and possibly even original research. ·:· Will Beback ·:· 08:21, 16 December 2007 (UTC)
 * As a movie, Desk Set has often been criticized, but the critics differ somewhat over whether the main problem was the unbelievable characterizations in the original play or the casting of Tracy and Hepburn in those parts.
 * Yes, that whole section (except for the last sentence, about the Canadian radio program), is really a review of the movie. It appears to be the opinion(s) of the editor(s) who wrote that section, so it clearly is original research.  Which is too bad, because it does make some good points.  6SJ7 (talk) 08:35, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

"transparent alias for NBC"
I doubt that the movie is explicitly referencing NBC, but rather is presenting a generic television network. The fact that they use Rockefeller Center for exteriors would seem to more indicate that Rockefeller Center was a likely-looking building for exteriors, more than anything else. Is there anything in the movie itself or any source that indicates the movie is specifically representing NBC, other than the use of their building?--NapoliRoma (talk) 16:49, 17 June 2008 (UTC)

Research Dept at FBC
To me, this looks like a library at UCLA I did some research in. Does anyone know where this was filmed? DFS (talk) 04:59, 2 January 2010 (UTC)
 * Back in those days, interior shots were mostly done on sound stages. However they may have been modeled on an actual UCLA library.   Will Beback    talk    19:55, 2 January 2010 (UTC)

Spelling of EMERAC/EMARAC/EMMARAC
There are many variations listed on the web. The stage play script uses EMMARAC but that might have been changed for the movie. The -RAC is consistent, but EME, EMA, and EMMA can all be derived from the supposed full name - "ElectroMagnetic MEmory And" supplies either one or two M's, and an E or an A as the second vowel. 66.76.242.44 (talk) 14:50, 13 September 2017 (UTC)

IBM Sponsored
I am surprised there is no mention at all of this film being sponsored by IBM, it was made to try to put people's minds at ease about their jobs being taken by computers - And knowing that it's very transparent :)

http://thecomputerboys.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Ensmenger2010-CB-desk-set.pdf

https://paleofuture.com/blog/2014/3/19/ibm-sponsored-a-major-hollywood-movie-about-computers-in-1957

Lawrie (talk) 01:02, 15 November 2022 (UTC)