Col. Frank Slade has a very special plan for the weekend!|Dec. 23, 1992|United States|156 Min.|R
Genre: Drama
Description: Charlie Simms is a scholarship student at Baird School, a prestigious preparatory school in New England. Unlike his wealthy classmates, Charlie comes from a modest background. To save money for a plane ticket home to Oregon for Christmas, he takes a temporary job over Thanksgiving weekend. His task is to look after Frank Slade, a retired, blind, and abrasive Army Lieutenant Colonel who struggles with alcoholism.
At Baird School, Charlie and another student, George Willis Jr., witness three classmates orchestrating a prank that humiliates the headmaster, Mr. Trask. When questioned, Charlie refuses to reveal the culprits, despite Trask offering him a bribe—a recommendation letter that could secure his admission to Harvard.
Meanwhile, Frank surprises Charlie by taking him on an unexpected trip to New York City. They stay at the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria, where Frank reveals his plan to enjoy his final days before committing suicide. Charlie is unsure whether Frank is serious.
Their journey includes an uninvited visit to Frank’s brother’s home in White Plains for Thanksgiving dinner. Frank’s confrontational behavior ruins the evening, and it’s revealed that his blindness resulted from a reckless accident involving live grenades.
As Charlie navigates the moral dilemma at school and his growing bond with Frank, he faces difficult decisions that test his integrity and understanding of life.
Cast director: Martin Brest
Cast actor: Chris O’Donnell, Al Pacino, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bradley Whitford, Richard Venture, June Squibb, Frances Conroy, Rochelle Oliver
Original name: Scent of a Woman