American Beauty and Edward Hopper

[Hyena]

Apparently a scene or shot in the Sam Mendes film 'American Beauty' is directly influenced by a painting by Hopper. Mendes said so on a BBC programme, which I forgot to tape. Does anyone know the painting and where to find it in the film?

[sylvday]

I didn't hear/see this progamme, so can't really help you. However, a Google search on "American Beauty" and "Hopper" produces various references to the movie's look being influenced by Hopper's paintings, though I didn't find a reference to any particular scene. Indeed, there is a quote by Mendes tol the effect that "American Beauty" was more influenced by another US painter, Norman Rockwell, and it was his subsequent film, "Road to Perdition" that was influenced by Edward Hopper. From memory, I would say that the shots in "American Beauty" most influenced by Hopper were those through windows, especially onto the partially dressed Thora Birch.

[Mr Steal]

I believe if you visit the Hopper exhibition at the Tate Modern, there is a compilation of Hopper-inspired film clips, which might answer your question. (I haven't been yet, but I surely will.)