
It seems an astute title for the essay because it presaged the connection between director Sam Mendes and the novel -- "American Beauty" is of course the title of Mendes' Oscar-winning 1999 film and he went on to direct the film version of "Revolutionary Road." Ford saw some similarities in mood and theme - angst in the suburbs, an unfulfilled life, unexpected violence -- in the movie "American Beauty" and the Yates novel. So this little circle is oddly complete.
Here's a link to the Ford introduction:
http://www.tbns.net/elevenkinds/richardford.html
-- Lars Trodson