The film director and screenwriter Brian De Palma has been travelling Europe this month plugging his latest film The Black Dahlia, a thriller based on a real-life killing that fascinated California in the 1940s. Starring Scarlett Johansson, the film, which opens in London this week, drew some good reviews in Venice and was tipped for an award. De Palma is currently on the publicity trail in Hollywood and Canada. He is a disciple of Alfred Hitchcock, using many of his techniques — abused blondes, slow motion, split screens and cross cutting. He first found success 30 years ago with Carrie, based on the Stephen King horror story. He initially enrolled as a physics student at Columbia University but became captivated by film after watching Vertigo and Citizen Kane. Now in his fifth decade as a film maker, he says that he has every intention of carrying on until he drops. Brian De Palma is 66 today.
RGT
Sir Austin Bide, chairman of Glaxo Holdings, 1973-85, 91; Dame Margaret Booth, High Court judge, Family Division, 1979-94, 73; Catherine Bott, soprano, 54; Paul Cole, racehorse trainer, 65; Mary Fagan, Lord-Lieutenant for Hampshire, 67; Sir Bernard Feilden, architectural conservationist, 87; Lord George, Governor of the Bank of England, 1999-2003, 68; William Knight, chairman, Financial Reporting Review Panel, 61; Lord Marlesford, special adviser to the Government, 1970-74, and The Economist lobby correspondent, 1976-91, 75; Lord Mayhew of Twysden, Attorney-General, 1987-92, and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, 1992-97, 77; Sir Neville Simms, chairman of Carillion, 1999-2005, 62; Roger Uttley, international rugby player, 58.