Scent Of A Woman

Sunday had been a busy day. But managed to squeeze into my movie archive to watch Scent of a Woman.

It has always been one of the many 'talked about moves'. It also finds a place among the list of movies where skin show and sexy women are not really given so much importance.

Scent of a Woman is about Charles Simms played by Chris O'Donnell, a prep school student and Frank Slade, played by Al Pacino, a blind and lonely war veteran.

Charlie has to spend the Thanksgiving weekend, looking after Lt. Colonel Frank Slade, a bitter, friendless, blind veteran when Slade’s family go away for thanksgiving weekend. Charlie has managed admission into the school for the privileged few, purely on merit. To cover his expenses he takes up the arduous task. He embarks on a tour of self-discovery when Slade decides to make an unexpected visit to New York City. Charlie’s idea of a quite Thanksgiving goes for a toss when they head there. Frank wants to live life to the fullest before the last day of his life. Charlie is bewildered by Frank's vociferous antics but his infectious enthusiasm keeps Charlie hot on his heels.

In the mean time, Charles is privy to an act of vandalism and is blackmailed into revealing the identities. He is faced with quite a dilemma to and is dazed about what to do next. In the few days they are together, Frank gives good advice and Charlie takes notice of every word he says.

This maybe yet another movie about human bonds, but the realism with which the characters are portrayed is commendable. The relationship between Slade and Charlie is strong ‘cause they make it work. The movie is not too long. Chris O’Donnell stands his own in the towering presence of Al Pacino.

The dialogues in the movie are vibrant, you just can’t miss the endemic after-effects on hearing it. It resonates even after you’ve heard it. One of the most famous 8 minute dialogue delivered by Frank is truly outstanding. I burst into goose pimples every time I hear it. There was a mention about this in connection to the stuff leaders should be made of, in The Times of India.
Here’s an except from that article.

“ In the climax of the film Scent Of Woman, Lt. Frank Slade, memorably portrayed by Al Pacino, defends his young protégée, Charlie Simms, who’s about to be expelled from his school, Baird, for refusing to reveal the identity of his fellow students who played a prank. Slade’s speech remains one of the finest expositions on leadership in a work of fiction…..”

Trask: Mr. Sims, you are a cover-up artist and you are a liar.

Frank Slade: But not a snitch!

Trask: Excuse me?

Frank Slade: No, I don't think I will.

Trask: Mr. Slade!

Frank Slade:This is such a crock of shit!

Trask: Please watch your language, Mr. Slade. You are at the Baird School now not a barracks.
Now Mr. Sims I will give you one final opportunity to speak up.

Frank Slade: Mr. Sims doesn't want it. He doesn't need to labeled, "...still worthy of being a 'Baird Man.'" What the hell is that? What is your motto here? Boys, inform on your classmates, save your hide. Anything short of that we're gonna burn you at the stake? Well, gentlemen. When the shit hits the fan, some guys run and some guys stay. Here's Charlie--facing the fire, and there's George--hiding in big Daddy's pocket. And what are you doing? You're gonna reward George, and destroy Charlie.

Trask: Are you finished, Mr. Slade?

Frank Slade: No. I'm just gettin' warmed up. I don't know who went to this place--William Howard Taft, William Jennings Bryan, William Tell--whoever. Their spirit is dead; if they ever had one, it's gone. You're building a rat ship here. A vessel for sea-going snitches. And if you think your preparing these "minnows" for manhood, you better think again. Because I say you are killing the very spirit this institution proclaims it instills! What a sham! What kind of show are you guys puttin' on here today? I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me. And I'm here to tell you, this boy's soul is in tact. It is non-negotiable. You know how I know? Because someone here--I'm not gonna say who--offered to buy it. Only Charlie here wasn't selling.

Mr.Trask: Sir, you are out of order!

Frank Slade: Out of order, I'll show you out of order! You don't know what out of order is Mr. Trask! I'd show you but I'm too old, I'm too tired, and I'm too fuckin' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago I'd take a flame-thrower to this place. Out of order? Who the hell do you think you're talking to!? I've been around, you know? There was a time I could see. And I have seen, boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off. But there is nothin' like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that. You think you're merely sending this splendid foot-soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say that you are executing his soul! And why? Because he's not a Baird man. Baird men, you hurt this boy, you're going to be Baird Bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you too!

Mr. Trask: Stand down Mr. Slade!

Frank Slade: I'm not finished! As I came in here, I heard those words...cradle of leadership. Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall. And it has fallen here, it has fallen! Makers of men, creators of leaders, be careful what kind of leaders you're producing here. I don't know if Charlie's silence here today is right or wrong; I'm no judge or jury. But I can tell you this; he won't sell anybody out to buy his future! And that, my friends, is called integrity. That's called courage. Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of. (pause) Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew. But I never took it. You know why? Because it's too damn hard. Now here's Charlie; he's come to the crossroads. And he's chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle, that leads to character. Let him continue on his journey. You hold this boy's future in your hands, committee! It's a valuable future. Believe me! Don't destroy it...protect it...embrace it. It's going to make you proud one day...I promise you.