Desert Hearts

1985
R
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

7.8K

YOUR RATING

A woman leaves behind her life in New York to find herself in Reno in this trailer

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1 Video

57 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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

7.8K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 2 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:03

Desert Hearts

Photos57

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The $350,000 budget for the film was raised independently with limited partnerships.

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 reviews62

Featured review

8/10

a thoroughly entertaining and wonderful movie

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.