Trivia / Scent of a Woman

• Creative Differences: Cinematographer Mikael Salomon was replaced by Donald E. Thorin after ten days of filming.
• Dawson Casting: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Chris O'Donnell were 24 and 21, respectively, playing high school seniors.
• Deleted Role: According to Chris O'Donnell, when the production was permitted to film at Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, they agreed to allow a cameo by the hotel's then owner Donald Trump with wife-to-be Marla Maples. Apparently when a limo drops Pacino and O'Donnell off at the hotel entrance, right behind them Trump and Maples exit another limo. Trump's scene was ultimately cut.
• Enforced Method Acting: It was reported that, in order to make Chris O'Donnell cry during Lt. Colonel Slade's near-suicide scene, Al Pacino had to take him aside and scream at him "drill-sergeant style".
• Making Use of the Twin: Frank's grandniece and grandnephew are played by twins.
• Method Acting: Al Pacino was helped by a school for the blind in his preparation for this role. He said that he made himself appear blind by not allowing his eyes to focus on anything. He would often remain in character off set, using his cane to walk with and never looking at anyone when they talked to him.
• Throw It In!: The scene on the street where Lt. Colonel Slade falls over a garbage can was actually unplanned.
• What Could Have Been:
  • Jack Nicholson was the first choice for Lt. Colonel Slade. Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, and Joe Pesci were also considered. Sylvester Stallone claimed that he turned it down.
  • Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stephen Dorff, Corey Feldman, Brendan Fraser, Anthony Rapp, Chris Rock and Sam Rockwell all tried out for Charlie Simms.

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