Brian De Palma
It can be said that Brian De Palma is Alfred Hitchcock's most faithful and perceptive follower, continuing the exploration of the eye of the camera and flow of suspense narrative initiated by the British master. Born in New Jersey in 1940, De Palma was seduced away from a career in physics at Columbia University by the one-two punch of Citizen Kane and Vertigo. His first film, The Wedding Party (filmed in 1963, but not released until 1969), featured a newcomer to the acting scene - Robert De Niro. Documentaries and two more films with De Niro paved the way for De Palma to go to Hollywood, with early successes such as Sisters (1973). Carrie (1976) cemented his reputation as a director that could at once construct a powerful horror film, explore new narrative techniques, and simultaneously draw in blockbuster-sized audiences. From there on out, De Palma has continued his explorations, frequently re-visiting themes from different angles, such as in the case of the extrovert gangster film Scarface (1983), and the similarly themed, but inwardly directed Carlito's Way (1993). De Palma has also frequently drawn upon the history of TV drama, using films such as The Untouchables (1987) and Mission Impossible (1996) to reflect upon the history of the medium and its narrative potential. Hitchcock can rest easy: De Palma continues to show that great film and great box-office need not contradict each other.
