Talk:My Cousin Vinny

Jackson, GA and Route 20
20 does not run east of Jackson. It is north. 16 runs east. Is there a confusion here? Mercer5089 (talk) 07:14, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

I-20 does run east and west through Jackson, MS. Although the movie was filmed in Georgia, it is set in Alabama, which is between GA and MS, so Jackson, MS is as likely as the other. Niteshift36 (talk) 07:25, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

Trivia
In the book, Reel Justice, the authors point out that Vinny did not have to depend on Mona testifying as an expert on automobiles. This is because since Vinny is an experienced mechanic himself and had no way of knowing that expertise would be relevant to the trial before it started, the rules of court would have allowed him to take the stand himself and deliver the same testimony.


 * Or he probably could have won the case on appeal because of the judge's decision to allow the prosecution's FBI witness without giving the defense time to prepare.


 * I deleted this section. Ethical rules do not permit a lawyer to be both an advocate and a witness in the same proceeding, with very limited exceptions that don't apply here.    The fact that the trial was under way wouldn't matter.  The function of a lawyer is to explain evidence, the function of a witness is to provide it.  There is too much risk the jury would confuse the two.  The judge would be far more likely to declare a mistrial, appoint other counsel, then allow Vinny to testify to a fresh jury.  And he would do that only if Vinny could show that no other mechanic could so testify.  Which would place doubt on the reliability of Vinny's testimony.  In the final analysis, Vinny had no choice but to put Mona on the stand.--Wehwalt 18:45, 20 September 2006 (UTC)


 * During his first meeting with Haller, Vinny claims to have successfully defended a suspect in the David Berkowitz murders, referred to only as "the Son of Sam" in the film. I remember Gwynne's incredulous "The guy who took orders to kill from a dog?"  I didn't know he was real (and that was an authentic detail), until I tripped over him while link-diving on The Atlantic.  I dunno if we want a trivia section back, but I'll remember that bit! Featherwinglove (talk) 03:38, 17 January 2014 (UTC)

Unsourced section removed
I removed this section:

According to Dale Launer, the screenwriter, he had Lisa testify because he wanted her to share in Vinny's victory.

I'm not sure this makes much sense. See, I am Dale Launer the writer of this screenplay and there is no one on the face of the earth who could better know what was in my mind other than me. How on earth can I possibly verify what I was thinking? Isn't the fact that the source is the actual source good enough? Or are you questioning whether or not I am the real Dale Launer? The material below also comes directly from me - directly from me to Wikipedia. I would think the Wiki folks would be delighted in that fact. Perhaps if I wrote it someplace else and then linked to it?

James Belushi was originally offered the role of Vinny, but he turned it down. Danny Devito was once attached to either direct or star, but he dropped out of the project. Robert De Niro was championed by the producer and director, but deemed "not funny" by the studio heads. At the time he had only appeared in one comedy, Midnight Run.

Originally, Vinny's character was dyslexic. The condition was to be the reason it took him so long to pass the bar.


 * He was also in Brazil (film), a black comedy. marbeh raglaim 05:39, 11 July 2007 (UTC)

Beechum County merge
There's really no reason I can see that the fictional Beechum County should have its own article. It's only linked from here and from lists of fictional counties, and there is no information in that article that isn't in this one. I'll wait a bit and then turn that article into a redirect. Croctotheface 05:50, 1 October 2006 (UTC)

Wazoo merge
Ditto Beechum County. There is no information here that warrants its own article. All the information in the Wazoo article is contained in this article. I can't imagine any notable information that would be appropriate for the Wazoo article and not for this one. As I think this is pretty uncontroversial, I'll wait a bit and then go ahead with the merge. Croctotheface 08:26, 13 October 2006 (UTC)

Plot hole?
When the two 'yoots' were arrested, would the police have told them what they were charged with (murder) and read them their rights? This might have eleminated the 'coffesion' etc. This might have been a poetic licence but its worth noting.--Doom Child 02:27, 15 January 2007 (UTC)


 * They aren't actually charged until they appear in court. During the arrest and interrogation, the police could have said something like "we want to talk to you about what happened at the store" and not specified a crime. That would stand. Niteshift36 (talk) 07:18, 14 September 2008 (UTC)


 * Yup, with shotguns, handcuffs, mug shots and Stan being in the dark, and would still be even when the guy pops his head out and says, "It's time to make your phone calls." I'm going with poetic license!! Featherwinglove (talk) 03:36, 28 December 2013 (UTC)


 * It is kind of a plot hole, but not really. The USSC ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that upon arrest you must be read your rights or the arrest is not valid and any subsequent confessions prior to the reading of rights are thrown out as fruit of the poisoned tree. Having said that, in the movie, we don't see the entire arrest, so we don't know whether they were read their rights or not, IIRC. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.205.36.128 (talk) 19:23, 22 April 2010 (UTC)

Judge's Name
Where in the movie is the judge's name mentioned. The only part I can think of is when Vinny is in the judge's office and looks at the diplomas but the camera doesn't zoom in enough on the diplomas to see the man's name. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.237.206.66 (talk) 17:58, 30 March 2008 (UTC)
 * "All rise for His Honou: Judge Chamberlin Haller. The Court of Beechum County is now in session." - the Bailiff at the beginning of the arraignment :p Featherwinglove (talk) 04:01, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

At the very least in the closing credits. --Ted87 (talk) 20:05, 16 July 2008 (UTC)

At least two occasions specifically: 1)  when the bailiff announces his entrance into the courtroom.  2)  When the judge contacts the Clerk of New York with Vinny in the office. I'm sure there's another occasion, but I can't think of it... Also, there is a name plate on the bench. Mercer5089 (talk) 07:12, 14 September 2008 (UTC)


 * In the intro, Gwynne is said to have been "until then typecast as Herman Munster". Not true. At all. I'll change it in a few days. 71.164.128.113 (talk) 02:44, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

I already did 71.192.108.214 (talk) 19:07, 18 December 2010 (UTC)

Bloating the bloated plot section
I really fail to see what the text that's recently been added, where we go into unmercifully minute detail about the background of LIsa's character, when the previous version was perfectly illuminating to begin with. What does pointing to her character's background, or really any of the rest of that stuff, have to do with the plot? Croctotheface (talk) 02:50, 16 June 2009 (UTC)

More plot bloat
I reverted to one of my old versions of the plot. I want to be clear that it's not because I think that the old version is perfect, but it's much more concise. Of course, my old version is also too long according to our guidelines, so that puts things in perspective a little bit. I'm sure there are lots of ways for the current text to be improved, but lengthening/adding details isn't likely to be one of them. Croctotheface (talk) 09:45, 13 July 2010 (UTC)

Prison Scene
The prison scene was filmed at Lee Arrendale Correctional Institution (in Alto, Georgia), which since the time of filming has now become a woman's prison. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.131.60.203 (talk) 12:31, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
 * Hi, thanks for the information, but Wikipedia needs a reliable source to add the material to the article, so I have to remove it. If you can find a good source, you can reinsert the material. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment here. Thanks.--Bbb23 (talk) 14:30, 7 August 2012 (UTC)
 * I worked for the Redirection Drug Treatment Program at Arrendale CI at the time of filming and was also an extra in the film. They did indeed use our inmates for the basketball recreation scene. There are photos available if needed. I don't believe the drug program exists anymore. LACI is a women's facility now. staff members from prison security also worked in the film. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lu Lu 34 (talk • contribs) 03:09, 27 February 2014 (UTC)
 * I thought I caught it in a director's commentary track, but I don't have that copy of the movie anymore. Featherwinglove (talk) 23:56, 18 December 2013 (UTC)
 * "Special Thanks" in the credits lists "The Staff and Residents of the Redirection Program at the Lee Arrendale Correctional Institution". Featherwinglove (talk) 00:04, 19 December 2013 (UTC)

B-class?
I got the plot summary down to 717 words (17 above guideline) and I can't cut any more without cutting into why the film got the reception that it did (including, I think, the variety of arguments in that courtroom. I don't think eyeglasses and cruddy window screens are unusual enough in court, but I doubt the cooking times of grits and the finer points of rear differentials are discussed much in trial court.  I wouldn't mind working in Lisa's spectacular voir dire, but there's no way I can check off my wish list and keep under a thousand words.)  When I look at this article, it seems like the big plot summary was the only thing between it and B-class. I know it's citing a primary source, but can we not mention Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute under Filming? Featherwinglove (talk) 03:56, 28 December 2013 (UTC)

Citation
I believe that this statement needs some sort of citation. It makes a very broad claim. “Lawyers have praised the movie's realistic depiction of courtroom procedure and trial strategy.“ __MJLavelle (talk) 05:12, 9 March 2018 (UTC)
 * Yes, that definitely needs a citation. Where can it be found in the article? --- The Old Jacobite The '45 15:21, 9 March 2018 (UTC)
 * That statement appears in the intro. However, later in the article, there are several references to several praises the movie has received from specific lawyers and judges. Each of these specific references is appropriately cited. Is that sufficient? A general reference in the intro, then expanded and cited in the article? Fish Man (talk) 02:04, 10 March 2018 (UTC)

Costumes
My mother Carol Wood did the costumes for this movie.

https://m.imdb.com/name/nm0939595/ Davidwood1121 (talk) 03:26, 11 December 2023 (UTC)