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Scent of a Woman (1992 film)

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Scent of a Woman
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMartin Brest
Screenplay byBo Goldman
Based onIl buio e il miele
1974 novel
by Giovanni Arpino
Suggested byCharacter from Profumo di donna
by Dino Risi
Produced byMartin Brest
Starring
CinematographyDonald E. Thorin
Edited by
Music byThomas Newman
Production
company
City Light Films
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • December 23, 1992 (1992-12-23)
Running time
156 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$31 million[1]
Box office$134.1 million

Scent of a Woman is a 1992 American drama film produced and directed by Martin Brest that tells the story of a preparatory school student who takes a short-term job near Thanksgiving as a companion and assistant to a retired Army lieutenant colonel who is blind, depressed and irritable.

The film was adapted by Bo Goldman from the Italian novel Il buio e il miele (Italian: Darkness and Honey) by Giovanni Arpino. This was previously adapted by Dino Risi for his 1974 Italian film Profumo di donna.

The American film stars Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell, with James Rebhorn, Philip Seymour Hoffman (credited as Philip S. Hoffman), Gabrielle Anwar and Bradley Whitford in supporting roles.

The film was shot primarily around New York State, and on location at Princeton University. Scenes were shot at the Emma Willard School, an all-girls school in Troy, New York; as well as at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel and the Fieldston School in New York City.

The film had a limited theatrical release on December 23, 1992, expanding nationwide on January 8, 1993. It received generally positive responses from critics and was a box-office success. Pacino won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. The film was nominated for Best Director, Best Picture and Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.[2]

The film won three Golden Globe Awards, for Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Motion Picture – Drama.[3]

Plot

[edit]

Charlie Simms is a scholarship student at fictional Baird, an exclusive New England preparatory school. A woman hires him to watch her uncle, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, during Thanksgiving weekend. Charlie accepts so that he can buy a plane ticket home to Gresham, Oregon, for Christmas. He meets Frank, a highly decorated, blind Vietnam War veteran who has become an alcoholic.

Charlie and student George Willis Jr. witness three classmates set up a prank to humiliate the headmaster, Mr. Trask. Afterward, Trask learns of the two witnesses and unsuccessfully presses them to name the perpetrators. He privately threatens Charlie with withdrawing the recommendation that he has already made that Charlie be accepted by Harvard University. Trask schedules a meeting of the school disciplinary committee to take place on the Monday after the Thanksgiving weekend.

Frank Slade unexpectedly takes Charlie on a trip to New York City and arranges their stay at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. During dinner in the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel, Frank reveals that the goals of his trip are to stay at a luxurious hotel, enjoy good food and wine, visit his older brother, and have sex with a "terrific" woman. Afterward, he intends to die by suicide.

On Thanksgiving Day, they visit Frank's brother at his home in White Plains. Frank provokes everyone at dinner, which ends up in a confrontation with his nephew Randy, who reveals that Frank was not blinded heroically in combat, but rather by grandstanding by juggling live grenades for a group of younger officers.

As the pair returns to New York City, Charlie mentions his problem at school. Frank advises Charlie to turn informant and take advantage to go to Harvard. He warns that George will probably submit to Trask's pressure, so Charlie should act first and get the benefit. While at a restaurant, Frank notices the scent of a young woman waiting for her date. He introduces himself and offers to teach her the tango. The evening ends with Frank having sex with a high-class escort, completing the stated objectives of his trip.

Despondent the next morning, Frank is uninterested in any suggestions for that day until Charlie suggests going for a ride. A former Ferrari owner, Frank talks the salesman into letting them take a convertible for a test ride. When on the road, Frank becomes depressed again until Charlie allows him to drive. Guided by Charlie's eyes and commands, Frank is elated until he is pulled over by a policeman. Frank convinces the officer to let them go without revealing that he is blind.

After returning the car, Frank again becomes despondent. He jaywalks into rushing traffic on Park Avenue and narrowly avoids being struck by multiple cars. When they return to the hotel, Frank sends Charlie to buy cigars. Charlie leaves but becomes suspicious and returns to find Frank donning his dress uniform, preparing to end his life with his service pistol. Frank backs down after Charlie convinces him that he has much to live for and should courageously face his circumstances.

On Monday morning, Charlie and George are subjected to a formal inquiry by the Baird disciplinary committee in front of the student body. Frank unexpectedly arrives and sits with Charlie. George's father counsels George to dissemble yet identify the perpetrators. George Jr. provides tentative identifications but claims that he was not wearing his contact lenses, and shifts confirming them to Charlie.

Charlie refuses to do so, resulting in Trask recommending his expulsion. Frank gives a speech defending Charlie, and obliquely mentions a bribe attempt. He denounces Baird for not living up to its own standards and urges the committee to value Charlie's integrity. The disciplinary committee places the instigators on probation, denies George credit for naming them, and excuses Charlie from the proceedings.

As Charlie escorts Frank to his limousine, political science professor Christine Downes, a member of the disciplinary committee, commends Frank for his speech. Frank flirts with Christine, and impresses her by knowing the name of her perfume. Charlie accompanies Frank home, where Frank happily greets his niece's children.

Cast

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Production

[edit]

The rights to remake Dino Risi's Profumo di donna were purchased by Ovidio G. Assonitis and first slated for presale by Ronald DeNeef's Rainbow International at MIFED in October 1988, alongside Assonitis's Beyond the Door III and Midnight Ride (then called Nowhere to Run).[4] When Assonitis became Chairman of Cannon Pictures Inc. in 1989, he announced that his films currently in development and production, including the remake of Scent of a Woman, would be made and released under the Cannon banner.[5]

By May 1990, Cannon Pictures had entered into an agreement with Universal Pictures to produce the film.[6] in 1991, Bo Goldman was hired to write the screenplay. He later said, "If there is a moral to the film, it is that if we leave ourselves open and available to the surprising contradictions in life, we will find the strength to go on."[7]

Martin Brest was approached to direct the film in April 1991, and chose this film over another potential remake with which he was presented, a remake of Death Takes a Holiday (which was made and released by Universal as Meet Joe Black starring Brad Pitt, Claire Forlani and Anthony Hopkins).[8] By early August, Brest had officially signed, and Al Pacino was being sought for the lead.[9] Pacino officially signed on the following month.[10]

Casting

[edit]

Rising young actors, including Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Brendan Fraser, Anthony Rapp, Randall Batinkoff, Dante Basco, Chris Rock and Stephen Dorff auditioned for the role of Charlie Simms[11][12][13] before Chris O'Donnell was cast in November 1991.[14] Jack Nicholson was offered the role of Lt. Col. Frank Slade but turned it down.[15]

Research

[edit]

Pacino painstakingly researched his part in Scent of a Woman. To understand what it feels like to be blind, he met clients of New York's Associated Blind, being particularly interested in accounts by those who had lost their sight due to trauma. Clients traced the entire progression for him—from the moment when they knew that they would never see again to the depression and through to acceptance and adjustment. The Lighthouse, an advocacy group for the blind also in New York, schooled him in techniques that a vision impaired person might use to find a chair and seat themselves, pour liquid from a bottle, and light a cigar.[7]

Filming

[edit]

Production on Scent of a Woman began on December 3, 1991, in New York City,[16] and ran until April 1992.[17] It was filmed in the following US locations.[18]

Music

[edit]
Scent of a Woman
Soundtrack album by
Thomas Newman
ReleasedJanuary 19, 1993
GenreSoundtrack, instrumental
LabelMCA

The soundtrack music for the film is composed by Thomas Newman. The tango to which Frank and Donna dance is "Por una Cabeza".[citation needed]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Main Title"   
2."A Tour of Pleasures"   
3."Tract House Ginch"   
4."45 in 25"   
5."Balloons"   
6."Cigars, Part Two"   
7."Por una Cabeza"
The Tango Project 
8."Long Gray Line"   
9."The Oakroom"   
10."Park Ave."   
11."Witnesses"   
12."Beyond Danger"   
13."La Violetera"PadillaThe Tango Project 
14."El Relicario"PadillaThe Tango Project 
15."Other Plans"   
16."Assembly"   
17."Fleurs de Rocaille"   
18."End Title"   

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

The film opened at number 20 at the US Box Office.[19] It would go on to earn $63,095,253 in the US and Canada and over $71 million internationally (excluding Italy), totaling $134,095,253 worldwide.[20][21][22][23]

Critical response

[edit]
Al Pacino received critical acclaim which finally earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, the only of his five nominations

Some criticized the film for its length.[24] Variety's Todd McCarthy said it "goes on nearly an hour too long".[25] Newsweek's David Ansen writes that the "two-character conceit doesn't warrant a two-and-a-half-hour running time".[26]

As of 2020, the film holds an 85% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews. The site's consensus states: "It might soar on Al Pacino's performance more than the drama itself, but what a performance it is – big, bold, occasionally over-the-top, and finally giving the Academy pause to award the star his first Oscar."[27] The film holds a score of 59 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 14 critic reviews, indicating "mixed reviews".[28]

Accolades

[edit]

Al Pacino won an Academy Award for Best Actor, the first of his career after four previous nominations for Best Actor. It was his eighth overall nomination. Ovidio G. Assonitis, who had originated the project and chose to go uncredited on the final cut of the film, took out a full-page advert in Variety congratulating Tom Pollock, Universal Pictures and Martin Brest for making the adaptation successful and praising Pacino on his Oscar win.[29]

Award Category Nominee(s) Result
20/20 Awards Best Screenplay – Adapted Bo Goldman Nominated
Academy Awards[30] Best Picture Martin Brest Nominated
Best Director Nominated
Best Actor Al Pacino Won
Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Bo Goldman Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards Best Edited Feature Film William Steinkamp, Michael Tronick and Harvey Rosenstock Nominated
Artios Awards[31] Best Casting for Feature Film – Drama Ellen Lewis Nominated
Awards Circuit Community Awards Best Actor in a Leading Role Al Pacino Nominated
BMI Film & TV Awards Film Music Award Thomas Newman Won
British Academy Film Awards[32] Best Screenplay – Adapted Bo Goldman Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards[33] Best Actor Al Pacino Nominated
Most Promising Actor Chris O'Donnell Won
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards Best Film Nominated
Golden Globe Awards[34] Best Motion Picture – Drama Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama Al Pacino Won
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Chris O'Donnell Nominated
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture Bo Goldman Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[35] Best Actor Al Pacino Runner-up
Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures Martin Brest Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards[36] Best Screenplay – Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Bo Goldman Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Scent of a Woman". PowerGrid. Archived from the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  2. ^ Weinraub, Bernard (March 30, 1993). "Oscar's night started at noon in Hollywood". The New York Times. p. 9. Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ Fox, David J. (January 25, 1993). "Pacino Gives Oscar Derby a New Twist : Awards: Actor wins Golden Globe for role in 'Scent of a Woman,' which also wins as best dramatic picture, surprising Academy Awards competitors". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 24, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  4. ^ "Mixed Bag of Italian Prods Are Up For Sale at Mifed". Variety. October 19, 1988. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "Cannon Reborn with Assonitis, Pierce at Top". Variety. May 23, 1989. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ "Pathe Unloads Cannon In Complex Deal With Trihoof". Variety. May 16, 1990. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  7. ^ a b Brest, Martin (director) (2006). "Production notes". Scent of a Woman (DVD). United Kingdom: Universal Pictures (UK).
  8. ^ "Gartner Veepee of Development At Brest Firm". Variety. April 9, 1991. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  9. ^ "Brest Will Direct, Produce U's Scent". Variety (magazine). August 8, 1991. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Just for Variety". Variety. September 6, 1991. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Meet Matt Damon". Vanity Fair. January 4, 2012. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Wolfe, Alexandra (November 16, 2013). "Stephen Dorff on the Motel Life and Finding Good Roles". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Chris Rock: The Rolling Stone Interview". Rolling Stone. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on January 18, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Just for Variety". Variety. November 19, 1991. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  15. ^ "15 Facts About 'Scent of a Woman'". Mental Floss. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Film Production Chart". Variety. December 6, 1991. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Film Production Chart". Variety. April 3, 1992. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "A Sight for Sore Eyes". Newsweek. March 29, 1992. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  19. ^ "Variety Box Office Report". Variety. December 29, 1992. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  20. ^ Fox, David J. (December 29, 1992). "Weekend Box Office Holiday Take a Nice Gift for the Studios". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  21. ^ Fox, David J. (January 26, 1993). "Weekend Box Office 'Aladdin's' Magic Carpet Ride". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 25, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  22. ^ Welkos, Robert W. (February 2, 1993). "Weekend Box Office 'Sniper' Takes Aim at 'Aladdin'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  23. ^ "UIP's $25M-Plus Club". Variety. September 11, 1995. p. 93.
  24. ^ Wells, Jeffrey (January 3, 1993). "LENGTH OF 'A WOMAN' : Minutes, Shminutes--Does It Play?". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  25. ^ "Scent of a Woman". Variety. December 31, 1991. Archived from the original on November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  26. ^ "Not A Season To Be Jolly". Newsweek. December 27, 1992. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  27. ^ "Scent of a Woman". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  28. ^ Scent of a Woman at IMDb
  29. ^ "Ovidio G Assonitis Congratulates". Variety. March 31, 1993. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  30. ^ "The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  31. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Casting Society of America. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  32. ^ "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1994". BAFTA. 1994. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  33. ^ "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives". Chicago Film Critics Association. January 2013. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Scent of a Woman – Golden Globes". HFPA. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  35. ^ "1992 New York Film Critics Circle Awards". Mubi. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  36. ^ "Awards Winners". wga.org. Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 5, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2010.
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