Brian De Palma is a renowned film director who spearheaded the new movement in Hollywood during the 1970s. Born on September 11, 1940, in Newark, New Jersey, to an Italian-American family, De Palma initially pursued a career in physics before being drawn to filmmaking after watching classic movies such as Citizen Kane.
De Palma enrolled in Sarah Lawrence College, where he was influenced by teachers like Alfred Hitchcock and Andy Warhol. His early films, including To Bridge This Gap (1969) and Greetings (1968),starred Robert De Niro in his first credited role. He continued to work with De Niro on The Wedding Party (1969) and Hi, Mom! (1970).
De Palma's breakthrough film, Carrie (1976),was a massive success and earned the lead actresses Oscar nominations. The film showcased De Palma's use of the split-screen technique, which would become a hallmark of his style.
De Palma's subsequent films, including The Fury (1978),Dressed to Kill (1980),and Blow Out (1981),solidified his reputation as a master of suspense. His next major success was Scarface (1983),a controversial and violent film written by Oliver Stone and starring Al Pacino.
De Palma's subsequent films, including The Untouchables (1987),Casualties of War (1989),and Carlito's Way (1993),showcased his versatility as a director. However, he also experienced commercial flops, such as The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) and Snake Eyes (1998).
Despite these setbacks, De Palma continued to direct films, including Mission: Impossible (1996),Mission to Mars (2000),and Redacted (2007). Although some of his films received mixed reviews, De Palma's box office history has shown that he always returns with a major success that is remembered for years to come.
