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Desert Hearts

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Desert Hearts (1985)
A woman leaves behind her life in New York to find herself in Reno in this trailer
Play trailer2:03
1 Video
56 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed professor of literature is unexpectedly seduced by a carefree, spirited young lesbian.While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed professor of literature is unexpectedly seduced by a carefree, spirited young lesbian.While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed professor of literature is unexpectedly seduced by a carefree, spirited young lesbian.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Donna Deitch
  • Writers
    • Jane Rule(novel "Desert of the Heart")
    • Natalie Cooper
  • Stars
    • Helen Shaver
    • Patricia Charbonneau
    • Audra Lindley
Top credits
  • Director
    • Donna Deitch
  • Writers
    • Jane Rule(novel "Desert of the Heart")
    • Natalie Cooper
  • Stars
    • Helen Shaver
    • Patricia Charbonneau
    • Audra Lindley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 57User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 67Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Desert Hearts
    Trailer 2:03
    Desert Hearts

    Photos56

    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Dean Butler, and Gwen Welles in Desert Hearts (1985)
    Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau in Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Helen Shaver
    Helen Shaver
    • Vivian Bellas Vivian Bell
    Patricia Charbonneau
    Patricia Charbonneau
    • Cay Rivversas Cay Rivvers
    Audra Lindley
    Audra Lindley
    • Frances Parkeras Frances Parker
    Andra Akers
    • Silveras Silver
    Gwen Welles
    Gwen Welles
    • Gwenas Gwen
    Dean Butler
    Dean Butler
    • Darrellas Darrell
    James Staley
    James Staley
    • Art Warneras Art Warner
    Katie La Bourdette
    • Lucilleas Lucille
    Alex McArthur
    • Walteras Walter
    Tyler Tyhurst
    • Buckas Buck
    Denise Crosby
    Denise Crosby
    • Patas Pat
    Antony Ponzini
    Antony Ponzini
    • Joeas Joe
    Brenda Beck
    • Joyceas Joyce
    Sam Minsky
    • Best Manas Best Man
    Patricia Frazier
    • Change Girlas Change Girl
    Sheila Balter
    • Roadside Waitressas Roadside Waitress
    Tom Martin
    • Red Capas Red Cap
    Joan Mankin
    • Casino Waitressas Casino Waitress
    • Director
      • Donna Deitch
    • Writers
      • Jane Rule(novel "Desert of the Heart")
      • Natalie Cooper
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    It is 1950s Nevada, and Professor Vivian Bell arrives to get a quickie divorce. She's unsatisfied with her marriage, and feels out of place at the ranch she stays on, she finds herself increasingly drawn to Cay Rivers, an open and self-assured lesbian, and the ranchowner's daughter. The emotions released by their developing intimacy, and Vivian's insecurities about her feelings towards Cay, are played out against a backdrop of rocky landscapes and country and western songs. —Neil Lewis <njl@cix.compulink.co.uk>
    • breasts
    • female frontal nudity
    • nipples
    • kissing while having sex
    • self discovery
    • 30 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The all-time favorite lesbian film classic!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Patricia Charbonneau filmed the entire movie while pregnant.
    • Goofs
      Toward the end of the movie, when Vivian and her divorce lawyer are walking down the steps of the courthouse, you can see an older woman with a straw hat walk up the stairs by them. When Vivian & the lawyer reach the door to walk outside, you can see the same woman walking in.
    • Quotes

      Vivian: I wouldn't know what to do.

      Cay: You can start by putting the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door.

    • Alternate versions
      The US DVD release is 5 minutes shorter than the theatrical version (91 as opposed to 96 minutes). The most noticeable cut is in the sex scene which is slightly briefer than the original.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Desert Hearts/Mona Lisa/Letter to Brezhnev (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Leavin' on Your Mind
      Written by Wayne Walker and Webb Pierce

      Performed by Patsy Cline

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews57

    Review
    Top review
    thank you, Donna Deitch
    "Desert Hearts" makes me feel all warm and romantic whenever I think about it, and this I attribute mostly to director Deitch. Credit is also due to screenwriter Natalie Cooper for making sense of Jane Rule's molasses-thick quagmire of a novel, and to a super cast of supporting players. Alex McArthur is James-Dean-cute in his fresh and much welcome film debut as Cay's charmingly sensitive brother Walter. Audra Lindley is great as Cay's dear gruff mom Frances, and Andra Akers, new to me, purrs and scintillates as Silver. The soundtrack is one-of-a-kind wonderful with Patsy Cline, Ella Fitzgerald and on and on. I can't tell you how many times I saw "Desert Hearts" in a theater but for months after, a certain song (or a lone train whistle) would evoke sweet haunting memories...

    As for Cay and Vivian, Patricia Charbonneau and Helen Shaver portray two sympathetic and instantly familiar female characters, but I've gotta give this to Donna, too. Why? Because this is the only production in which Shaver and Charbonneau (sounds good when you say 'em together!) rise above their usual below-average efforts. (I've seen enough of their film and TV work to make an admittedly personal judgment.) My gut feeling is that Deitch created a safe environment of honesty and acceptance, and encouraged and nurtured the heck out of her allegedly straight stars. In return they offered her an intimate duet of performances that, like the sleek sexy tailfins on Cay's Buick convertible, gave us a classic.
    helpful•13
    4
    • nun of the above
    • Feb 14, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 7, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Criterion Collection
      • HBOMAX (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Çöl Kalpler
    • Filming locations
      • Reno, Nevada, USA
    • Production companies
      • Desert Hearts Productions
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,250,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,492,088
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,492,088
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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