A woman on the precipice of divorce becomes drawn to a ranchowner's daughter.
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Title: Desert Hearts (1985)
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2 wins & 2 nominations.
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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 |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
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. Written by Neil Lewis <njl@cix.compulink.co.uk>
Taglines:
In 1959, Vivian Bell came to Reno, Nevada for a quickie divorce. Of all the people she met there, the one who surprised her the most was herself. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
7 March 1986 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Desert Hearts See more »Filming Locations:
Reno, Nevada, USAEdit
Box Office
Budget:
$1,250,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$22,862, 6 April 1986, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$2,492,088Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Hungarian Gambler: You don't play, you can't win.
See more »
Written by Ralph Rainger and Dorothy Parker
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Patricia Charbonneau was married at the time of filming and Helen Shaver would meet her future husband Steve Smith, a key grip on the film, while making it. See more »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. See more »Quotes
[to Vivian while playing two slot machines]Hungarian Gambler: You don't play, you can't win.
See more »
Soundtracks
I WISHED ON THE MOONWritten by Ralph Rainger and Dorothy Parker
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of RCA Records
See more »
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I've seen this movie at least a dozen times and it never fails to make me cry. It's a simple love story, but the fact that it's two women in love in Nevada in the 1950's gives it special significance. Unlike a lot of lesbian movies that were made in the 1980's, this one isn't all doom and gloom. It's actually a movie that will make you remember being young, impulsive and in love. It leaves the
viewer feeling hopeful about the future. Vivian Bell is a professor who comes to Nevada in the 1950's for a quickie divorce from her husband. While there she
meets Cay Rivers and Cay opens up a whole new world to her and makes
Vivian realize there's more to life than her stuffy, professional existence in New York. In addition, this movie has the most touching, intimate, erotic, and soulful love scene that I have EVER seen between 2 women in a movie.