"Chicago" director Rob Marshall and "Gangs of New York" director Martin Scorsese -- the latter winless now in four directing nominations -- were thought to be the front-runners.

CNN: 'Chicago' triumphs at Oscars

The Reverend Rob Marshall said it had been a "difficult week" for St Paul's, but "we continue to have quite good relations with those outside in the tents".

BBC: St Paul's camp: Occupy London is 'tourist attraction'

Just six times since 1949 has there been a difference in winners at the two awards, although last year the DGA plumped for Rob Marshall for Chicago while the Oscar went to Roman Polanski for The Pianist.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | US film awards snub Cold Mountain

In previews for the 1997 TV movie, Houston's Fairy Godmother and pop singer Brandy's title character were much hyped, but the Rob Marshall-directed production itself was stolen by old pros Bernadette Peters as the stepmother, Victor Garber and Whoopee Goldberg as the King and Queen, and Jason Alexander as a kind of singing, dancing, pratfalling George Costanza.

WSJ: Cinderella: That Flexible Fairy Tale