Brian De Palma is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, cameraman. Thanks to his work, action films such as Razor, Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables, Carlito's Way and Mission Impossible were released.
Biography of Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma (full name is Brian Russell De Palma) was born on September 11, 1940 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. His parents were Italians Anthony (orthopedic surgeon) and Vivien De Palma. Brian was the youngest of three children in the family. The boy received a religious education in a Presbyterian church. At an early age, Brian was little interested in films, preferring to study physics and participate in scientific exhibitions. In addition, De Palma worked a lot with technology and electronics. At one time, Brian became interested in medicine - he watched his father performing surgical operations.
In the late 1950s, Brian graduated from a private high school and in 1962 entered Columbia University. As a student, De Palma continued to study physics and technology. A revolution in the life of the future director happened after he watched the action movie "Vertigo" by Alfred Hitchcock. Soon, he turned away from studying science in order to focus on dramatic art. Later, Brian even played in several plays, and he liked it so much that De Palma sold all his electronic equipment to purchase film equipment.
Career and work of Brian De Palma
De Palma’s first film work was Icarus in 1960. Two years later, he released the 30-minute film Watson Wake, about how once a sculpture discovered that part of his abstract art had taken on the image of a woman. This film even won an award in 1963.
From 1962 to 1964, Brian studied at the Master of Fine Arts.
The future famous actor Robert De Niro at the beginning of his career starred in several films by Brian De Palma, including the comedy "Wedding Party", which was released only in 1969.
In the early 1970s, De Palma began to collaborate with the Hollywood studio Warner Brothers, a joint effort which released the film "You Need to Know Where Your Rabbit Is." However, due to controversy on the set, Brian soon had to quit his job.
Frustrated in Hollywood, De Palma returned to New York to begin his independent work on film production. Brian had to seek financing from investors, and only partially sponsor on his own. In the future, the director will even create his own film studio De Palma.
In 1973, thanks to the work of Brian, the action movie "Sisters" was released in the spirit of Hitchcock, and a year later the musical thriller "The Phantom of Paradise", based on various Gothic literary works. In 1975, this "scary musical" won the main prize at the Avoriaz film festival.
The next successful work of the filmmaker in 1976 is a fantastic horror film based on the work of Stephen King "Carrie". Here, the main character is a rogue schoolgirl who has discovered the ability to telekinesis. Starring Sissy Spacek, William Katt, Piper Laurie and John Travolta.
In the 1980s, De Palma, as a director and screenwriter, worked on the crime thriller "Razor", which caused a stir among feminists. Actress Angie Dickinson was able to convincingly translate her film image, and received the award for Best Actress. The film itself was nominated for the Saturn, Golden Globe, and even one Golden Raspberry anti-awards.
Recognition of film critics as director De Palma received in 1983 after the crime drama "The Scarface" with Al Pacino in the title role, where he acted as a Cuban emigrant involved in the illicit trade in cocaine.
In 1987, Brian De Palma worked on the gangster film The Untouchables. This criminal thriller raised almost $ 80 million, and Sean Connery, one of the main actors besides Robert De Niro and Kevin Costner, even won an Oscar.
In 1993, De Palma was the director of a gangster film based on the novels of Edwin Torres, "Carlito's Way" with Al Pacino.
Another most successful and famous film director came out in 1996, Mission Impossible, starring Tom Cruise. This action movie was the third highest grossing film of the year, paying off almost 6 times.
In 1998, the crime thriller with Nicolas Cage "Snake Eyes" was released, collecting more than $ 100 million at the box office.
In 2006, Brian De Palma filmed a neo-neuro detective about investigating a mysterious murder in the background of Los Angeles in the 1940s. Among the famous Hollywood actors who played roles: Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Rose McGowan.
For almost 50 years of his film career, Brian De Palma continues to work in his favorite action-packed genre.
In 2019, after a 4-year hiatus, the criminal thriller Domino with actor Guy Pearce will be released to the public. Among the film projects of the director, the future film "The Untouchables: The Formation of Capone", Gerard Butler is invited as an actor playing the main role.
