In celebration of Pride Month, the AFI Catalog shines a spotlight on director Donna Deitch’s 1986 landmark romantic drama DESERT HEARTS, considered to be the first mainstream feature film to depict lesbianism without prejudicial, fetishizing tropes and shame. The 1964 novel by Janet Rule upon which the film is based, “Desert of the Heart,” was...

A quarter century after THE HUSTLER, screen legend Paul Newman reprised his iconic role as pool shark “Fast Eddie” Felson in THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986) – stepping into the role of mentor to hotshot newcomer Vincent Lauria, played by Tom Cruise. The film was directed by AFI Life Achievement Award honoree Martin Scorsese and...