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Desert Hearts

Name: Desert Hearts
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 1985-10-01
Duration: 91 min
Rating: 7.1

★ 7,1 /10 (178 Votes)

1985 EN 91 min

Overview

While waiting for her divorce papers, a repressed literature professor finds herself unexpectedly attracted by a carefree, spirited young woman named Cay.

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Rent

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Release date

01/10/1985

Votes

178

Popularity

2.2

In 1959, Vivian Bell came to Reno, Nevada for a quick divorce. Of all the people she met there, the one who surprised her the most was herself.

Genres

Drama Romance

Status

Released

Language

Runtime

91 min

Budget

$350,000

Revenue

$2,400,000

Helen Shaver

Vivian Bell

Patricia Charbonneau

Cay Rivvers

Audra Lindley

Frances Parker

Andra Akers

Silver

Gwen Welles

Gwen

Dean Butler

Darrell

No photo

Katie La Bourdette

Lucille

James Staley

Art Warner

Denise Crosby

Pat

Antony Ponzini

Joe

Alex McArthur

Walter

No photo

Tyler Tyhurst

Buck

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Brenda Beck

Joyce

No photo

Sam Minsky

Best Man

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Patricia Frazier

Change Girl

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Sheila Balter

Roadside Waitress

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Tom Martin

Red Cap

No photo

Joan Mankin

Casino Waitress

No photo

Frank Murtha

Minister

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Dave Roberts

Lon

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Bob Blankman

Croupier

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Ron Fisher

Drunk Gambler

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Gene Skaug

Announcer

Donna Deitch

Hungarian Gambler

Jeffrey Tambor

Jerry (uncredited)

No photo

Gordon Chaplin

Groomsman (uncredited)

Original Soundtrack

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Lately I felt I couldn't consider myself a self-respecting cinephile unless I at the very least sampled more works both by female directors and from the gay/lesbian/related subgenre. Fortunately my university offered in its library collection an assortment I decided to peruse occasionally. Although Deitch's film is a romantic drama featuring lesbians, I still readily enjoyed it. Glad I took a chance on it and decided to expand my horizons as a adventurous film aficionado.

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As a lesbian myself, I have to say I was extremely grateful when a friend recommended I watch this film some 12 odd years ago when I was a willowy 14/15 year old realising that my private emotions were geared towards my own sex but I didn't want to tell the world just yet. I must admit to struggling to stay with this slow burner, probably due to my impatient teenage angst. But stay with it I did and I have to say it was well worth the journey! Yes, it had a relatively graphic but erotic lesbian love scene, but the film is more than that, not least for the great character study of the two…

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