Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysHispanic & Latino VoicesSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Desert Hearts

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,405
1,128
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
DramaRomance

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
6.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
8,405
1,128
  • Director
    • Donna Deitch
  • Writers
    • Jane Rule(based on the novel "Desert of the Heart" by)
    • Natalie Cooper(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Helen Shaver
    • Patricia Charbonneau
    • Audra Lindley
Top credits
  • Director
    • Donna Deitch
  • Writers
    • Jane Rule(based on the novel "Desert of the Heart" by)
    • Natalie Cooper(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Helen Shaver
    • Patricia Charbonneau
    • Audra Lindley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 58User 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)
    Helen Shaver and Patricia Charbonneau in Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Helen Shaver in Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Desert Hearts (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Helen Shaver
    Helen Shaver
    • Vivian Bell
    Patricia Charbonneau
    Patricia Charbonneau
    • Cay Rivvers
    Audra Lindley
    Audra Lindley
    • Frances Parker
    Andra Akers
    • Silver
    Gwen Welles
    Gwen Welles
    • Gwen
    Dean Butler
    Dean Butler
    • Darrell
    James Staley
    James Staley
    • Art Warner
    Katie La Bourdette
    • Lucille
    • (as Katie LaBourdette)
    Alex McArthur
    • Walter
    Tyler Tyhurst
    • Buck
    Denise Crosby
    Denise Crosby
    • Pat
    Antony Ponzini
    Antony Ponzini
    • Joe
    Brenda Beck
    • Joyce
    Sam Minsky
    • Best Man
    Patricia Frazier
    • Change Girl
    Sheila Balter
    • Roadside Waitress
    Tom Martin
    • Red Cap
    Joan Mankin
    • Casino Waitress
    • Director
      • Donna Deitch
    • Writers
      • Jane Rule(based on the novel "Desert of the Heart" by)
      • Natalie Cooper(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    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 reviews58

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    The best romantic movie
    It was a really beautiful movie. The director really captures the beauty of 2 women and 2 women finding true love in 1950's in the least expected situation. As you watched the film, your emotions just followed the main characters'. It is a very touching, tender, romantic movie. This is my favorite movie. I have been watching it many times since I got it.

    Thumbs up for Patricia Charbonneau for her stunning performance esp. this was her first performance on films. She played this young, dark haired, beautiful, free spirited, and passionate woman, Cay, who compelled Helen Shaver to look into her heart and finally allowed herself to admit her feelings for Cay. Patricia is really HOT in this movie. Her beautiful smile, her sparkling eyes, her sexy voice, and every move of hers is really attractive and charming. How can anyone not fall for her? I wonder why she didn't become a star after this movie?! She is absolutely Gorgeous and she can really act. It is a shame that she didn't get enough recognitions for her talents as she deserves in the film industry. Helen Shaver did an excellent job as well. She played a repressed English professor, Vivian, who went to Reno for a quick divorce. After closing herself up for years, meeting and knowing Cay finally forced her to face her true emotions and admitted her feelings for Cay. These 2 characters' personalities are really opposite of each other. One enjoys order and the other is free spirited but somehow they are able to find true love with each other. This movie described really well how Helen Shaver struggled with her own feelings and the society's expectations, and the hardship the society and Cay's family gave to the same sex couple. Yet, Cay is very courageous, facing her true feelings, and chasing after who she wants, Vivian. Although there was no clear ending for these 2 women, it is still hopeful since Patricia got on the train with Helen. One can only hope for the best for these 2 women and May they live happily ever after.

    The scenery views are quite beautiful. The mountain, the lake views and horses running are extra plus. The other characters are quite good such as Frances Parker, Cay's step mother. The love scene between these 2 is amazing. You can feel these 2 women's desires for each other. Vivian is initially repressed but once she follows her heart, you can feel these 2 women are truly in love and enjoy being intimate with each other. There is Great chemistry between Patricia and Helen, which makes this movie very real. The glances they exchanged with each other, the way they look at each other, and the way they talk to each other are very convincing that they are in love with each other. I love to watch the scenes between them over and over. I think they build up a strong foundation with each other, which then leads to a very believable, amazing, and erotic love making at the end.

    The director, Donna Deitch, did an outstanding job. The script is nicely written. The display of emotions is appropriate in 1950's. There are wonderful background musics. Donna Deitch is really successful bringing out the outstanding performance of these 2 lead actresses. It is not easy to direct a film such as this one in 1980's and she had to raise the fund for this movie herself. Overall, it is an excellent movie, something you can watch over and over. Highly recommended.
    helpful•43
    8
    • friend_city
    • Mar 26, 2005

    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
      • Yksinäiset sydämet
    • 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

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Desert Hearts (1985)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Desert Hearts (1985) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View image
    Photos
    Trending: Stars to Watch
    See the gallery
    View list
    List
    IMDb's Top 50 TV Dramas
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Sequels, Prequels, and Spin-Offs
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.