Trivia / My Cousin Vinny

• Accidentally-Correct Writing: Accidentally pocketing merchandise and not paying for it (such as the tuna can in the movie) would be considered concealment of merchandise, which is a crime. Depending on the jurisdiction, this is either considered an offense in itself or may be considered the same as shoplifting - even if the perpetrator never leaves the premises with the merchandise. Usually, merchandise concealment cases aren't prosecuted unless the suspect exits or attempts to exit the premises; this is meant to guarantee a criminal conviction.
• California Doubling: Although set in Alabama the film was actually shot in Georgia.
• Cast the Expert:
  • Director Jonathan Lynn, a qualified lawyer, took pains to make sure that the legal proceedings were as realistic as possible and to show that all parties involved are reasonable and working to serve truth as well as justice.
  • Austin Pendleton, who played the stuttering defense lawyer, actually overcame a stutter in real life. He initially turned it down because of the unpleasant memories associated with it, but was convinced to do the role as a personal favor by director Jonathan Lynn.
• Corpsing: Stan puts his head down on the table, "sobbing" as his stuttering defense lawyer presents his case. In fact, Mitchell Whitfield was trying to hide his laughter. Didn't help that the director was corpsing behind the camera at the same time. Not only Whitfield, but Joe Pesci and Ralph Macchio can be seen trying not to laugh as well.
• Dawson Casting: Bill was played by then 31 year old Ralph Macchio yet just starting college. Note that this is after he played the title character in The Karate Kid at 22. Though Macchio is able to get away with it due to famously looking much younger than his age, even now.
• Executive Meddling: The script did not have the real killers being caught but the studio insisted the movie could not end without that happening.
• From Entertainment to Education: Some law schools actually use this movie when teaching courtroom procedures.
• Inspiration for the Work: Jonathon Lynn said the basic idea for the movie came to him when he was in law school, and a classmate told him a story about a guy who failed the bar exam twelve times before passing. This gave him the idea "What if you were wrongly accused of murder, and the only lawyer available was that guy?"
• Irony as She Is Cast: Maury Chaykin, who plays the very southern prosecution witness, Mr. Tipton ("No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits"), was actually born in New York and lived in Canada most of his life.
• Playing Against Type:
  • Fred Gwynne spent decades trying to move beyond the role of Herman Munster. He did so with this film, finally getting to show audiences that he had much more range through the character of Judge Haller. Unfortunately, he passed away soon after completing this film and didn't get a chance to explore other types of characters.
  • Joe Pesci himself usually plays villains with a giant chip on their shoulder, as seen in Goodfellas, Casino, and Home Alone. Here, he plays an easygoing, albeit somewhat unscrupulous lawyer who serves as The Hero of the film. Similarly, in his previous gangster films, Pesci played a confident, swaggering, ballsy character. Here, he plays somebody completely out of his depth and struggling to find his way through the situation.
• Star-Making Role: Marisa Tomei's film resume skyrockets after her Oscar-winning appearance in this film.
• Stillborn Franchise: Dale Launer tried to get a sequel going for a while, which would have involved Vinny going to England for another trial (just imagine him dealing with a barrister's wig and try not to laugh). However, things came to a halt after Marisa Tomei dropped out. Launer is currently trying to revive his idea as a stage play.
• Throw It In!:
  • The director, an Englishman, was casually chatting with Joe Pesci and got confused by his Brooklyn-accented pronunciation of "youth". After Pesci explained it, they both realized they were having a conversation that should be in the film. The famous "two yoots" conversation between Vinny and Judge Haller that resulted is practically verbatim what Pesci and the director said to each other.
  • According to the director's commentary, the screech owl that woke Vinny just happened to come across the film crew one night. It stayed because they fed it some meat.
  • The bit where Vinny knocks over Judge Haller's chess pieces was an actual accident on Joe Pesci's part. The director thought the moment and the two actors' reactions were perfect and left it in.
• What Could Have Been:
  • James Belushi turned down the lead role, a decision he regretted, as he was going to play the manager in A League of Their Own, which was delayed a few years and then went to Tom Hanks. Andrew "Dice" Clay was the studio's original choice for the lead, and Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito, Jon Lovitz, and Peter Falk were also considered.
  • Christopher Lloyd was considered for the role of Judge Chamberlin Haller.
  • Lorraine Bracco was the first choice for the role of Mona Lisa Vito but declined the role.
  • Samuel L. Jackson auditioned for the role of the man who tells Vinny, "You've got mud in your tires."
  • Will Smith and Ben Stiller were considered for either Bill or Stan, but the story of a young man wrongly arrested in the South would take a more serious turn if that young man were Black or Jewish, and it was decided that would be distracting from the comedy.
• Word of God: According to writer Dale Launer, Vinny is supposed to be dyslexic and the condition is why it took him six times to pass the bar and the reason he's so intimidated when Judge Haller hands him the book on Alabama trial procedures.

---