Scent of a Woman (1992)

Scent of a Woman poster

Universal Pictures
Starring: Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, Sally Murphy
Directed by: Martin Brest

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Charlie Simms (Chris O’Donnell) is a prep school student on scholarship who takes a job caretaking for a blind veteran over Thanksgiving weekend to earn some extra money. But Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino) has other plans which turn Charlie’s world upside-down.

Featured Feline: Tommy is a large gray and white cat which appears several times at the beginning of the film. When Charlie first arrives at the house where he will work, he meets Karen Rossi (Sally Murphy) who takes him to the small house on the property where her uncle is living. At the door of the small house Tommy is eating from a bowl of food on the step.

Scent of a Woman - gray and white cat Tommy seen eating on front step of small house in background

As Karen approaches the house she stoops down to pick up Tommy and then knocks. Opening the door slightly she calls inside to ask if Uncle Frank wants Tommy in or out. The Colonel shouts to leave him out, that he’s chasing the Calico from the track houses again. She sets the cat down and then lets Charlie enter.

Scent of a Woman - Karen Sally Murphy with large gray and white cat Tommy

Later when Charlie returns he realizes that the Colonel is planning to leave as soon as his niece and her family is gone. Tommy the cat is seen standing by the window.

Scent of a Woman - gray and white cat Tommy standing by window

When the taxi arrives, the Colonel gathers his things and he and Charlie start to leave. Tommy meows from a nearby chair.

Scent of a Woman - gray and white cat Tommy in chair

The Colonel calls to the cat, which comes running. He affectionately calls the cat “Tomster” and hugs and kisses him goodbye, giving him a simple piece of advice: “When in doubt . . . f***.”

Scent of a Woman - Al Pacino holding gray and white cat Tommy