Brian De Palma's "The Black Dahlia" will mark the opening of the 63rd annual Venice Film Festival, organizers announced Monday. The 1940s period film, due to be released by Universal on Sept. 15 in the U.S., is based on the bestseller by James Ellroy, and stars Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank and Josh Harnett. It tells the dark story of corruption and conspiracy within the Los Angeles police department that comes to light while two police officers investigate a brutal murder. "We are honored that Brian De Palma chose Venice to premiere his new and anticipated film," Venice president Davide Cross and artistic director Marco Muller said in a joint statement.

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