 In his scathing review for "The New York Times", Vincent Canby criticized the screenplay as "unimaginative", described its characters as having "so little life", and the film as lacking a "voice or style of its own", but did add that it "is so earnest and sincere that it deserves an "A" for deportment".In comparison, Gene Siskel of the "Chicago Tribune" wrote that the film was "elegant, traditional story-telling" with "complete characterizations and performances, a genuinely tender and erotic love scene and a sweetly satisfying finale"; adding "the filmmaking and performances are so seamless that ""Desert Hearts"" may accomplish on film what hasn't been achieved in society—the de-sensationalizing of lesbianism.