Name Of A "Mint" in Old Movies

Cafe Society
1

I like to watch old movies, mostly from the 30s and 40s, and often I noticed the guy will ask someone for something. I think it’s a mint. The problem is I can’t make out what he’s saying

He says something like “Can I have a fentens”? Or “Can I have a Fenmens”? I’ve Googled around but I can’t find it.

Now it may not even be a mint, maybe it’s a piece of tabacco or something else. It doesn’t look like they chew it or anything.

But today I saw a movie and the guy choked on it and the other man said “You don’t swallow it.”

It appears to be a mint, but it might be something else

Any clue to what these guy were putting in their mouth? I am thinking it may have been a brand name back then, like Mentos is now.

2

Sen-Sen?

3

Sen-sen maybe? Kind of a tiny mint-licorice flavored tablet that was supposed to cover the smell of booze on the breath.

4

Rio, by Duran Duran?

5

“They’re tryin’ out Bevo, tryin’ out cubebs,
Tryin’ out Tailor Mades like Cigarette Feends!
And braggin’ all about
How they’re gonna cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen-Sen.”

6

Wow you guys are quick and smart.

I am 99% sure that is what they are saying IS Sen-sen. It sounded like an “F” but “F” and “S” are close enough so I probably heard wrong

Thanks

7

You can actually buy sen-sen at vermontcountrystore.com. click on old-fashioned candy section. I remember it from when I was a kid in the sixties, but I don’t recall seeing it in many years.

8

Also explains the Sen-sen Ante Kid from the MYTH series of books.