American Beauty is considered one of the most iconic films of our time. This funny and oh-so-clever story about life in the suburbs won the hearts of millions of fans, not to mention winning numerous awards, including Best Picture at the Oscars. But most of the fans are still clueless about certain bizarre behind-the-scenes details, so prepare to get your mind blown!
1. The Original Ending
Lester and Angela in the original script did end up in bed together, but the filmmakers changed that by having Lester stop himself before things got too hot and bothered. The original ending was straight and to the point, while the new one was more ambiguous. And all this was the result of test screenings where audiences hated the ending.
2. Carolyn’s Famous Meltdown Scene
Right at the start of the movie, when Carolyn’s potential house buyer bails, she is left alone and quickly breaks down, realizing how much of a failure she is. Such dramatic scenes usually take hours or even days to get right, but the actress, Annette Bening, nailed it in a single take! She later commented that the inspiration for Carolyn’s character came from a woman Bening saw at church. She was very composed on the outside but, on the inside – a complete mess.
