In the Oscar nominated movie, Scent of a Woman (1992), we are graced with one of the most admirable and famous characters in movie history, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, played by none other than, equally inspiring and talented powerhouse, Al Pacino.
Frank Slade is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the US Army. He is old and cranky, yet he has a great sense of humour. He is fascinated with alcohol and women. He also has a knack for women's fragrances. He is also a great travel companion according to his aid. However, above all, he is blind.
Although an old soul with no eye sight sounds like someone to feel pity for, Lt Col Frank Slade is nothing like that. He is very strong. There is a scene where his aid Charlie tries to grab his arm to direct him in his path, the colonel snaps right away, saying, "Are you blind? Then why do you keep grabbing my goddamn arm? I take your arm."
Colonel also has high senses, as it is believed that when one sense is lost, others heighten. Colonel can figure out the heavy burden his aid Charlie carries in his shoulders when an occurrence happened in school that bothers him.
Another aspect of Colonel's character is his humour. In a scene, when Colonel's niece and nephew-in-law start leaving for vacation with their kids, causing nuisance, Colonel says, "The goddamn Flintstones haven't left yet."
Then, at the very beginning, when Charlie meets Colonel for the first time and calls him Sir, Colonel says, "Call me anything. Just don't call me Sir." At one point, when Colonel and Charlie arrive at New York, Colonel asks Charlie what drink he would prefer. Charlie replies that he doesn't use it. Then, Colonel jokingly says, "What's useful about it?"
In another scene, Colonel asks Charlie to describe a woman he senses on another table behind them. Charlie struggles and replies that it is a female, not knowing what to say. Then, Colonel humours by saying, "You calling her female must mean you like her or you wouldn't be so casual."
Furthermore, he loves to talk dirty. When he leaves for New York, he bids his cat goodbye by telling it to mate, when in doubt.
On the other hand, Colonel is fascinated towards women. In a scene, where Colonel and his aid Charlie are together in a flight, Colonel says to Charlie, "The hairthey say the hair is everything, you know. Have you ever buried your nose in a mountain of curls and just wanted to go to sleep forever? Or lipsand when they touched yours were like that first swallow of wine after you just crossed the dessert."
In another scene, when Colonel asks Charlie to describe a woman in another table behind, Charlie hesitates. Then, Colonel says, "The day we stop looking, Charlie, is the day we die." Colonel then has an amazing dance of Tango with that beautiful woman.
In the movie, at one point, Colonel describes what has kept him going through all these years. He says, "Just the thought that maybe one day, I could have a woman's arm wrapped around me and her legs wrapped around me. That I could wake up in the morning and she'd still be there. Smell of her. All funky and warm."
So, beneath all inspiring and motivating attitudes, the character is in pain and sufferings. It gets pretty clear when he says, "What life? I got no life! I'm in the dark here! You understand? I'm in the dark," while interrupted by his aid when he tries to kill himself.
Now, for the most admirable aspect of Colonel's character is honour. Lt Col Frank Slade is the true definition of honour, courage and integrity.
When his aid Charlie, unfortunately, gets trapped in a situation, where the only way out for him is to be a snitch and rat on his mates; Charlie chooses the right path and holds his integrity by not telling on his classmates. So, when Charlie is to be punished wrongfully in school at a trial held by the authority, Lt Col Frank Slade comes on behalf of Charlie's parents and defends him from the injustice about to happen.
Eventually, after an amazing speech regarding integrity, courage and injustice from Colonel, he convinces the board not to punish Charlie and leaves him with his honour, integrity and courage intact because in Colonel's words, "Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of."
This is what and who Lt Col Frank Slade is. The character is so deep that describing this character is beyond words. Lastly, it wouldn't be justified if I don't end without quoting Colonel's most famous catchphrase --- "Hooh-ah!"
