Desert Hearts (1985)

A woman on the precipice of divorce becomes drawn to a ranchowner's daughter.

Director:

Donna Deitch

Writers:

Jane Rule (novel), Natalie Cooper

Stars:

Helen Shaver, Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Shaver	...	Vivian Bell
Patricia Charbonneau	...	Cay Rivvers
Audra Lindley	...	Frances Parker
Andra Akers	...	Silver
Gwen Welles	...	Gwen
Dean Butler	...	Darrell
James Staley	...	Art Warner
Katie La Bourdette	...	Lucille
Alex McArthur	...	Walter
Tyler Tyhurst	...	Buck
Denise Crosby	...	Pat
Antony Ponzini	...	Joe
Brenda Beck	...	Joyce
Sam Minsky	...	Best Man
Patricia Frazier	...	Change Girl

Storyline

It is 1950s Nevada, and Professor Vivian Bell arrives to get a 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.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by woman | 1950s | divorce | lesbian | desert | 

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Taglines:

In a city where fortunes are made and dreams are shattered, she gambled on a different kind of love.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Criterion Collection Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Desert Hearts

Filming Locations:

Reno, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,250,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$22,862, 6 April 1986, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,492,088

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desert Hearts Productions,The Samuel Goldwyn Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Patricia Charbonneau filmed the entire movie while pregnant.

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Goofs

While the film is set in 1959, the opening scene is of the "Super Chief" rail service pulling into Reno, NV, while in fact it was a service of the Santa Fe railroad at the time, one which did not get anywhere near Reno. Compounding the error the scene mistakenly indicates that the line was operated by the Union Pacific Railroad while the diesel locomotive seen pulling the train into the station at Reno is labeled with the (U.S.) Department of Transportation logo, a federal entity established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and which began operation on April 1, 1967.

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Quotes

Vivian: [to Cay] I've never felt this way before.

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Connections

Featured in Desert Hearts: Interview of Stars by Director (2007)

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Soundtracks

HONKY TONK MAN
Written by Johnny Horton, Tillman B. Franks and Howard Hausey
Performed by Johnny Horton
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

An all time classic.

Classic is an overused term, but not in the case of this movie!. I first saw it in 1990 when I was 17 and it had a huge impact on me, I had never really enjoyed romances before with the possible exception of "Marty", but this movie with the 2 very attractive, intelligent, charming leads(Helen Shaver & Patricia Charbonneau), insightful script, subtle direction and gorgeous landscape shocked and moved me. I had never seen women express such profound sexual yearning for one another before, and even in this day of lesbian chiqe this is THE lesbian movie in my mind. I would like to see this movie given the credit it deserves, for starters I would like to see a deluxe DVD re-issue, complete with a documentry including interviews with the cast and crew, background notes about the novel it is based on "Desert of the heart" by Jane Rule, etc, etc. With the 20th anniversery approaching I think a campaign should be started to rescue this movie from "cult" status and put it where it belongs.