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Scent of a Woman (1992 film)

Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:30:11 PM Wikipedia source

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

Infobox

Directed by
Martin Brest
Screenplay by
Bo Goldman
Based on
Il buio e il miele1974 novelby Giovanni Arpino
Suggested by
Character from Profumo di donnaby Dino Risi
Produced by
Martin Brest
Starring
mw- Al Pacino Chris O'Donnell
Cinematography
Donald E. Thorin
Edited by
William Steinkamp Michael Tronick Harvey Rosenstock
Music by
Thomas Newman
Productioncompany
City Light Films
Distributed by
Universal Pictures
Release date
December 23, 1992 (1992-12-23)
Running time
156 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$31 million
Box office
$134.1 million

Tables

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

References

  1. PowerGrid
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130628194505/http://powergrid.thewrap.com/project/scent-woman
  2. The New York Times
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-oscars-night-start/123764249/
  3. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-25-ca-1588-story.html
  4. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=cf15081d-d9bd-484d-bbc2-49ebb0f375a1&pnum=298&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22&archiveopen=true
  5. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=cef9203c-03ef-420e-bea7-007270a5eb06&pnum=17&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22&archiveopen=true
  6. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=b47b5206-a0c8-4622-acbe-a19f9f4cb285&pnum=19&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22&archiveopen=true
  7. Scent of a Woman
  8. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=98e2bfaa-8a7e-4d00-91a4-5906145b8b7d&pnum=3&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22&archiveopen=true
  9. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=9307f36e-3033-4de9-960b-35a9e1299ae1&pnum=1&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22&archiveopen=true
  10. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0de9e715-4bbc-4d3a-b9f9-8ab56f976dce&pnum=2&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22
  11. Vanity Fair
    https://www.vanityfair.com/news/1997/12/matt-damon-199712
  12. Wall Street Journal
    https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304644104579194191922133818
  13. Rolling Stone
    http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/chris-rock-the-rolling-stone-interview-20141203
  14. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=ff5a9365-0a29-4920-823c-3af0d5a720ae&pnum=2&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%222
  15. Mental Floss
    https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/84058/15-facts-about-scent-woman
  16. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=2738b05f-0fd8-4eef-8515-63cc8fd8d0ba&pnum=12&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22
  17. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=ac34cd19-a239-45e0-86f7-203181ff1910&pnum=14&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22
  18. Newsweek
    http://www.newsweek.com/1992/03/30/a-sight-for-sore-eyes.html
  19. The Dark Path
    https://books.google.com/books?id=6mwhuleIXxAC&q=true+lies+por+una+cabeza&pg=PT138
  20. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=9eadabf3-3169-492d-8372-069ada7d0f02&pnum=6&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22
  21. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-12-29-ca-2860-story.html
  22. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-26-ca-2081-story.html
  23. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-02-ca-830-story.html
  24. Variety
  25. Rotten Tomatoes
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1042193-scent_of_a_woman/
  26. Scent of a Woman at IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105323/
  27. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-03-ca-1092-story.html
  28. Variety
    https://variety.com/1991/film/reviews/scent-of-a-woman-2-1200429261/
  29. Newsweek
    http://www.newsweek.com/1992/12/27/not-a-season-to-be-jolly.html
  30. Variety
    https://read-archive.variety.com/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=b07a980f-dc50-4364-a73e-9f17c4c88c95&pnum=5&search=%22Scent+of+a+Woman%22+%22ovidio%22
  31. "The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners"
    http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993
  32. "Nominees/Winners"
    http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1993
  33. "Scent of a Woman"
    https://www.bafta.org/awards/search?search=Scent+of+a+Woman&type=
  34. "1988-2013 Award Winner Archives"
    https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/archives
  35. "Scent of a Woman"
    https://goldenglobes.com/film/scent-of-a-woman/
  36. "1992 New York Film Critics Circle Awards"
    https://mubi.com/awards-and-festivals/nyfccas?year=1992
  37. "Awards Winners"
    http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551
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