Skip to content
Heartland poster
6.4 / 10(21 votes)IMDbPG19811h 36mUnited States of America

Heartland

“Heartland is about roots and origins. Heartland is about love and survival.”

Synopsis

Widowed Elinor Randall and her young daughter Jerrine arrive in a barren stretch of Wyoming in 1910 after Elinor's application for work as a housekeeper is accepted by Clyde Stewart, a rancher. The work is back-breaking and the isolation is brutal, particularly as winter arrives. Elinor begins to think about homesteading her own property near Stewart's ranch, but Stewart tries to dissuade her with explanations about the killing conditions and poor rewards, especially for a woman with no man to help her ranch. Although their temperaments are different and little affection exists, Elinor and Stewart agree to marry and combine homesteads. What lies ahead is the severest test of all.

Release History & Theatrical Window

World Premiere

Festival of American Independent Feature Films

Festival / Special Debut

Theatrical Premiere

August 23, 1981

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Richard Pearce
Screenplay & Story
Beth Ferris
Original Score
Charles Gross
Original Title
Heartland
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
English
Runtime
1h 36m
Production Studios
Filmhaus, The National Endowment for the Humanities

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Richard Pearce

Screenplay & Story

Beth Ferris

Original Score & Music

Charles Gross

Director of Photography

Fred Murphy

Film Editing

Bill Yahraus

Producers

Beth Ferris, Annick Smith, Michael Hausman

Department Leadership Roster

Beth Ferris

Screenplay

Charles Gross

Charles Gross

Original Music Composer

Richard Pearce

Richard Pearce

Director

Patrizia von Brandenstein

Production Design

Bill Yahraus

Editor

Fred Murphy

Director of Photography

Beth Ferris

Producer

Michael Hausman

Producer

Hilary Rosenfeld

Costume Design

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: PG

PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

International Certification Matrix

United States (MPAA)PG

Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for Heartland.

Featured In Curated Collections

Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Heartland.

柏林电影节金熊奖

Berlinale Film Festival Golden Bear 柏林国际电影节历届金熊奖获奖影片。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-19 07:39:20 UTC+8)*

87 titles

North American Cinema

Auto-generated by festival-lists — do not edit by hand.

523 titles

Berlin Golden Bear Winners

Winners of the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

91 titles

Tubi TV US - Western Movies

Curated list of Most Popular on Tubi (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.

150 titles

Prime Video US - Western Movies

Curated list of Most Popular on Amazon Prime (US). Updated frequently. Last updated August 28, 2026.

150 titles

Top 100 Western Movies (English)

100 titles

Similar Titles to Heartland

Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling

  • 7.2
  • 5.5
  • 5.3
  • 6.5
  • 7.0
  • 7.4
  • 6.4
  • 6.0
  • 7.2
  • 6.0
  • 6.8
  • 6.3
  • 6.8
  • 7.3
  • 6.2
  • 5.0
  • 5.9

More Like Heartland

Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.

6.7
6.5
6.2
8.2
6.3
6.1
7.4
6.4
6.1
6.1
6.5
6.6

Frequently Asked Questions About Heartland

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is Heartland about?

Widowed Elinor Randall and her young daughter Jerrine arrive in a barren stretch of Wyoming in 1910 after Elinor's application for work as a housekeeper is accepted by Clyde Stewart, a rancher. The work is back-breaking and the isolation is brutal, particularly as winter arrives. Elinor begins to think about homesteading her own property near Stewart's ranch, but Stewart tries to dissuade her with explanations about the killing conditions and poor rewards, especially for a woman with no man to help her ranch. Although their temperaments are different and little affection exists, Elinor and Stewart agree to marry and combine homesteads. What lies ahead is the severest test of all.

Who directed Heartland?

Heartland was directed by Richard Pearce.

Who stars in Heartland?

The principal cast of Heartland includes Rip Torn, Conchata Ferrell, Barry Primus, Megan Folsom, Lilia Skala.

When was Heartland released and how long is it?

Heartland was released in 1981 with a total runtime of 1h 36m.

Who composed the musical score for Heartland?

The original motion picture soundtrack for Heartland was composed by Charles Gross.

What is the age rating and content advisory for Heartland?

Heartland holds official age classifications: US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).