Name: American Beauty
Genre: Drama
Released: 1999-09-15
Duration: 122 min
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari

About the film

American Beauty at a glance.

Screen Path places this 1999 film at stop 365 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.

Lester Burnham, a depressed suburban father in a mid-life crisis, decides to turn his hectic life around after developing an infatuation with his daughter's attractive friend.

Principal cast

Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley and Mena Suvari

Key craft credits

Conrad Hall (director of photography), Christopher Greenbury (editor), Tariq Anwar (editor), Thomas Newman (original music composer) and Naomi Shohan (production design)

Director: Sam Mendes
Release: 1999-09-15
Runtime: 122 minutes
Genres: Drama
Country: United States
Quiz: 50 questions

The Screen Path journey

Before. After. Remember.

The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.

01

Before you watch

Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.

Spoiler-free

02

After the film

Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.

Contains spoilers

03

Quiz yourself

Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.

50 questions in this journey

Citizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.

Start the example →

Full cast

Kevin SpaceyCharacter: Lester Burnham
Annette BeningCharacter: Carolyn Burnham
Thora BirchCharacter: Jane Burnham
Wes BentleyCharacter: Ricky Fitts
Mena SuvariCharacter: Angela Hayes
Peter GallagherCharacter: Buddy Kane
Allison JanneyCharacter: Barbara Fitts
Chris CooperCharacter: Colonel Fitts
Scott BakulaCharacter: Jim Olmeyer
Sam RobardsCharacter: Jim Berkley
Barry Del ShermanCharacter: Brad
Ara CeliCharacter: Sale House Woman #1

Full crew

Sam MendesCredits: Director
Christopher GreenburyCredits: Editor
Debra ZaneCredits: Casting
David LazanCredits: Art Direction
Bruce CohenCredits: Producer
Dan JinksCredits: Producer
Julie WeissCredits: Costume Design
Conrad HallCredits: Director of Photography
Thomas NewmanCredits: Original Music Composer
Tariq AnwarCredits: Editor
Mike HigelmireCredits: Leadman
Chris EdmondsCredits: Second Unit First Assistant Director
Maria DeVaneCredits: Post Production Accountant
Suzan WexlerCredits: Set Designer
Robin RichessonCredits: Storyboard Artist
Alan BallCredits: Writer, Co-Producer
Stan WlodkowskiCredits: Co-Producer
Kim MozingoCredits: Actor's Assistant
Lisa PenarandaCredits: Set Decorating Coordinator
Michael CaseyCredits: Leadman
Dana BrunettiCredits: Actor's Assistant
Hope SlepakCredits: Costume Supervisor
Scott Martin GershinCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
Patricia DeHaneyCredits: Key Hair Stylist
Tracey Wadmore-SmithCredits: First Assistant Editor
Joe OndrejkoCredits: Construction Coordinator
Jonathan F. StyrlundCredits: Visual Effects Producer
Molly ClickCredits: Art Department Coordinator
Cat SmithCredits: Assistant Art Director
Deborah RickettsCredits: Researcher
John C. HartiganCredits: Special Effects Coordinator
Naomi ShohanCredits: Production Design
Rob HodgsonCredits: Visual Effects Supervisor
Janet YaleCredits: Visual Effects Producer
Jan K. BergstromCredits: Set Decoration
David GoldbergCredits: Visual Effects Supervisor
Huston BeaumontCredits: Rigging Gaffer
Alan RankinCredits: Sound Effects Editor
Carol A. O'ConnellCredits: Key Hair Stylist
Tania McComasCredits: Makeup Artist
Chris DouridasCredits: Music Supervisor
Thomas PasatieriCredits: Orchestrator
Marcy Grace FroehlichCredits: Assistant Costume Designer
Gerald A. KingCredits: Rigging Grip
Aaron PazantiCredits: Camera Operator
Geoffrey HaleyCredits: Camera Operator
Paula AbdulCredits: Choreographer
Alix HesterCredits: Set Costumer
Clyde E. BryanCredits: First Assistant Camera
Joanie DienerCredits: Music Editor
Jeffrey WilhoitCredits: Foley
Ana Maria QuintanaCredits: Script Supervisor
Cydney CornellCredits: Hairstylist
Julie HewettCredits: Makeup Artist
Lorey SebastianCredits: Still Photographer
Bill BernsteinCredits: Music Editor
Bryan BowenCredits: Sound Effects Editor
Bob BeemerCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Larry MadarasCredits: First Assistant Editor
Kanani WolfCredits: Set Costumer
Scott MillanCredits: Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Cristen Carr StrubbeCredits: Unit Production Manager
Phil CulottaCredits: Utility Stunts
Pete TownshendCredits: Thanks
Tony AdlerCredits: Assistant Director
Lisa DennisCredits: Post Production Supervisor
Ben ScottCredits: Stunt Coordinator
Nicole KidmanCredits: Thanks
Jackie GonneauCredits: ADR & Dubbing
Ross DunkerleyCredits: Electrician
Rosemary C. CremonaCredits: Assistant Director
David LinckCredits: Unit Publicist
Ralph MerzbachCredits: 24 Frame Playback
Olivier SardaCredits: Digital Compositors
Jeff CouchCredits: Driver
Holiday FreemanCredits: Stand In
Janet LonsdaleCredits: Production Accountant
Paula BonhommeCredits: Visual Effects Coordinator
Christine BonnemCredits: Location Manager
Lynda ReissCredits: Property Master
Carl FischerCredits: Boom Operator
Chris SampCredits: Painter
Richard Van DykeCredits: Production Sound Mixer
Jim TurnerCredits: Production Controller
Mike PiccirilloCredits: Set Production Assistant
Kevin Du ToitCredits: Post Production Assistant
Matt MagnoliaCredits: Visual Effects Editor
Trevor JollyCredits: ADR Supervisor
Pia MehrCredits: Studio Teachers
René GonzálezCredits: Projection
Randy LoveladyCredits: Transportation Captain
Dennis SandsCredits: Scoring Mixer
John CassellaCredits: 3D Artist
A. Welch LambethCredits: Transportation Coordinator
Andrea DopasoCredits: Set Designer
Dana KroegerCredits: Additional Camera
Ian KayCredits: Set Dressing Artist
Rob GarlowCredits: Propmaker
Jeffrey SkinnerCredits: Editorial Production Assistant
Richard W. JonesCredits: Greensman
Thomas O'Neil YounkmanCredits: First Assistant Sound Editor
Christian ZimmermannCredits: Standby Painter
Bill YoungCredits: Key Grip
Krissy KornCredits: Craft Service
Phil HetosCredits: Color Timer
Christa VausbinderCredits: Production Coordinator
Conrad W. HallCredits: Second Unit Director of Photography
Mark GordonCredits: Dialogue Editor
David GoliaCredits: Second Unit Director of Photography
Simon CokeCredits: Dialogue Editor
Nerses GezalyanCredits: Foley Mixer
Carlos M. GallardoCredits: Dolly Grip
Travis BaumannCredits: Compositing Artist
Debbie-Lynn SiegelCredits: Payroll Accountant
Matt WalkerCredits: Production Secretary
Stephanie KimeCredits: Second Second Assistant Director
Victor A. HaddoxCredits: Assistant Accountant
Shannon SpeakerCredits: Assistant Production Coordinator
Kelly DiehlCredits: Libra Head Technician
John CarneyCredits: Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Sanford SlepakCredits: Key Costumer
Peter E. HirschCredits: Second Assistant Director
Angela M. WhitingCredits: Assistant Property Master
Tony ChanceCredits: Storyboard Artist
James MorianaCredits: Foley Artist
Dean DrabinCredits: ADR Mixer
Michael ThomasCredits: Camera Loader
Buffy ZerefskiCredits: Assistant Makeup Artist
James M. CoxCredits: Chief Lighting Technician
Jerry MiscevichCredits: Special Effects Technician
Vince FilipponeCredits: Assistant Editor
Raquel OsborneCredits: Extras Casting
Chee HoCredits: Location Assistant
Steven BuhaiCredits: Production Assistant
Steven R. MolenCredits: Production Executive
Brook BaconCredits: Swing
Brian BashamCredits: ADR Recordist
Jeff LovelyCredits: Location Coordinator
Greg ZimmermanCredits: Foley Recordist
Paul FarleyCredits: Best Boy Grip
Mike GentileCredits: Second Assistant Camera
Terri TaylorCredits: Casting Assistant
Yoshi Enoki Jr.Credits: Assistant Location Manager
Robert 'Bobby Z' ZajoncCredits: Pilot
Matt DesseroCredits: Visual Effects Compositor
Lisa Marie SerraCredits: Post Production Coordinator
Jason HansenCredits: Special Effects Assistant