I d take a flamethrower to this place

I'd take a flamethrower to this place (Al Pacino) - Scent of a Woman
Frank Slade (Al Pacino) defends Charlie (Chris O'Donnell) in a thrilling speech that changes the tide of the Baird hearing. #scentofawoman #alpacino #movieclip Get your Popcorn Pick! Watch here: A prep school student needing money agrees to "babysit" a blind man, but the job is not at all what he anticipated.


Scent of a Woman (1992 film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scent of a Woman

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Martin Brest
Screenplay by Bo Goldman
Based on Il buio e il miele
1974 novel
by Giovanni Arpino
Suggested by Character from Profumo di donna
by Dino Risi
Produced by Martin Brest
Starring
Al Pacino
Chris O'Donnell
Cinematography Donald E. Thorin
Edited by
William Steinkamp
Michael Tronick
Harvey Rosenstock
Music by Thomas Newman
Production
company
City Light Films
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date
December 23, 1992
Running time 156 minutes
Country United States
Language English
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, 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 and the film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director 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
Charlie Simms is a scholarship student at Baird, an exclusive New England preparatory school. Karen hires him to watch her uncle, retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, during Thanksgiving weekend. Charlie accepts so 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 a cantankerous and cynical alcoholic.

Charlie and student George Willis Jr. witness three classmates set up a prank to damage the headmaster, Mr. Trask's sports car and humiliate him. Afterward, Trask learns of the witnesses, and unsuccessfully presses them to name the perpetrators. He privately offers Charlie virtually guaranteed acceptance to Harvard University if he informs on the other students. 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 NYC 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 in an accident that occurred when he drunkenly juggled live grenades to show off for a group of younger officers. Frank assaults Randy for repeatedly calling Charlie "Chuck", a name Charlie despises, revealing his growing affection for Charlie.

As they return to NYC, Charlie mentions his problem at school. Frank advises he turn informant, warning that George will probably submit to Trask's pressure, so he should act first so he can attend Harvard. While at a restaurant, Frank identifies 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 the day until Charlie suggests going for a ride. Frank talks a Ferrari 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. When they are 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 escapes 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 appear before the Baird disciplinary committee with the whole student body in attendance. Frank unexpectedly arrives and sits with Charlie. George Jr. provides tentative identifications but claims he was not wearing his contact lenses, so he cannot be positive.

Charlie refuses to confirm George Jr.'s identification, so Trask recommends his expulsion. Frank gives a speech defending Charlie, 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. He flirts with her, impressing her by recognising her perfume. Charlie accompanies Frank home, where Frank happily greets his niece's children.