June 13, 1991
SCENT OF A WOMAN
Screenplay by Bo Goldman, Novel by Giovanni Arpino
Synopsis by Brian Aldrich
CHARLIE SIMMS, 17, is from a middle-class Oregon family and is attending The Baird School, an expensive New England prep school, on a scholarship. His rich buddies, HARRY, GEORGE, TRENT, and JIMMY are taking off to spend Thanksgiving on a snow trip. Charlie takes a weekend job to raise enough money to fly home for Christmas. His job is to take care of COLONEL SLADE, a blind, retired soldier who appears to be just as rowdy and horny as ever. Meanwhile, Charlie and George are witness to a prank pulled by Harry and Jimmy who have poured concrete into DEAN TRASK's new Jaguar. Trask demands Charlie and George tell him who was responsible. The four boys make a pact to keep quite. Trask bribes Charlie to talk with an offer to secure his admission to Harvard and threatens to expel him if he doesn't cooperate. Charlie has the weekend to consider his reply.
Slade's family has barely left the driveway for their weekend away, when Slade orders Charlie to accompany him on a wild weekend trip to New York City. Charlie reluctantly goes along. In New York, Slade and Charlie check into the Waldorf-Astoria. Slade passes out $100 bills like candy as they have a grand dinner and time on the town. Charlie is a bit put off by Slade's obnoxious behavior, but begins to learn how to enjoy life. Slade gives Charlie advice on how to solve his school dilemma. Charlie gets angry and wants to leave. Slade reveals that he is planning to commit suicide at the conclusion of his weekend. Charlie agrees to stay if he can have the bullets to Slade's gun. On Thanksgiving, they take a limo to Slade's brother's house in Westchester and crash their dinner. Slade acts rudely and cruelly to his relatives who don't care for his presence. He is ashamed when he leaves. The next day, they test drive a Ferrari. Slade even drives and is stopped by a cop, but convinces the cop that he can see. Slade goes to a hooker.
Charlie convinces Slade not to kill himself. They miss their plane home and take a limo instead. Meanwhile, Charlie has found out that George is going to tell his rich father who will use his influence to help his son. Slade warns Charlie to save his own ass. Back at school, George, under advisement from his father, says that because he didn't have his glasses on, he can't identify the pranksters. The pressure is on Charlie to tell the truth. Slade appears and defends Charlie. He preaches about integrity and loyalty. He convinces the school board to leave Charlie alone, suspend Harry and Jimmy, and not credit George for his actions. Slade goes home to his family, happy and content to be alive.
Summary Criticism: This is sort of THE LAST DETAIL meets THE DEAD POET'S SOCIETY. Unfortunately, the plot and characters are predictable and formulaic.
The Scent of a Woman - imdb
Bo Goldman - imdb
Giovanni Arpino - imdb
No comments:
Post a Comment