Black Dahlia/Scarlett Johansson to open Venice Film Festival

pacific breeze · July 24th, 2006, 06:49 PM

Johansson thriller to open Venice
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5211466.stm

The world premiere of Brian De Palma's The Black Dahlia, starring Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett, is to open the Venice Film Festival.

The thriller is based on LA Confidential writer James Ellroy's novel, inspired by a real-life murder of an actress in 1940s Los Angeles.

The film also stars Hilary Swank and Aaron Eckhart and will be among those vying for the Golden Lion award.

The 63rd annual festival runs from 30 August to 9 September.

It is held at Venice's Lido, a beach resort island.

The Black Dahlia was the nickname given to actress Elizabeth Short following her brutal murder in 1947.

Hartnett and Eckhart play two policemen investigating the killing who fall in love with the same woman, played by Scarlett Johansson.

De Palma's best-known work includes Carrie, Scarface, The Untouchables and Mission: Impossible.

Ang Lee's gay cowboy film Brokeback Mountain collected the Golden Lion at last year's festival.

Raspberry gashes · July 24th, 2006, 06:56 PM

I want to see that movie.
Speaking of Scarlett, i find it really hard to believe that shes only 22 sometimes. She could pass for 27,28, easy.

SammysMom · July 24th, 2006, 06:57 PM

Oh I have been hearing little bits and pieces of this movie. My son was reading about this story online. The actress who was murdered was Elizabeth Short in 1947. I also saw a program about on one of the cable stations. Really pretty sad and in human in how she was murdered. Here is a website about it.
http://www.bethshort.com
She sort of reminds me of Nelly Furtado, the singer.

darksithbunny · July 24th, 2006, 07:14 PM

I am getting ready to buy the book and read it. We talked about it a lot in my criminal justice classes.

pacific breeze · July 24th, 2006, 07:15 PM

It's a great read, but sad.

lalala · July 24th, 2006, 07:32 PM

With a good script De Palma can be excellent, but I'm afraid the gory details will be sickening - I still can't watch te chainsaw murder at the beginning of Scarface, even though I know it's only suggested

Daphne · July 25th, 2006, 12:28 AM

I can't wait to see this. The Black Dahlia case has always fascinated me. I'm also excited to see what De Palma does with the material.

AliceInWonderland · July 25th, 2006, 12:56 AM

Dita Von Teese looks a lot like The Black Dahlia!

dita's eyes look dark here but they're really light crystal blue like Elizabeth's were. poor girl, what an unfair early age/way to die..

Manboob · July 25th, 2006, 06:06 AM

I'm slightly obsessed with that case.

I read the James Ellroy book and Elizabeth Short doesn't appear in it, as far as I remember. It's just about the investigation.