Desert Hearts (1985): cast, story & where to watch
1985 · Film · ★ 7.1
Released in 1985, Desert Hearts is a drama and romance film directed by Donna Deitch, running about 91 minutes. “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.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. The story of straight-edge literature professor Vivian who travels to Reno to get away from a relationship breakup when she falls in love with an attractive and unconventional girl named Cay.
Who’s in it. Desert Hearts stars Patricia Charbonneau as Cay Rivvers, Audra Lindley as Frances Parker, Andra Akers as Silver Dale and Helen Shaver as Vivian Bell, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.1/10, Desert Hearts has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $2.4M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel and TCM and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Desert Hearts page.
If you liked it. Fans of Desert Hearts tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Desert Hearts (1985)?
- In US, Desert Hearts is available to stream on HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Desert Hearts worth watching?
- Desert Hearts holds an audience score of 7.1 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Desert Hearts?
- Desert Hearts stars Patricia Charbonneau, Audra Lindley, Andra Akers, Helen Shaver and Gwen Welles.
- When was Desert Hearts released?
- Desert Hearts was released in 1985, with a runtime of about 91 minutes.