History Trivia / MyCousinVinny

* IronyAsHeIsCast: 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.

* FakeNationality: 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.

* CastTheExpert: 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.

* FakeNationality: Maury Chaykin, who plays the very southern prosecution witness, Mr. Tipton ("No self-respecting southerner uses instant grits"), was actually Canadian.

** Creator/JoePesci himself usually plays villains with [[HairTriggerTemper a giant chip on their shoulder]], as seen in ''Film/{{Goodfellas}}'', ''Film/{{Casino}}'', and ''Film/HomeAlone''. Here, he plays an easygoing, albeit somewhat unscrupulous lawyer who serves as TheHero of the film.

** Creator/JamesBelushi turned down the lead role, a decision he regretted. Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/DannyDeVito and Creator/JonLovitz were also considered.

* {{Corpsing}}: Stan puts his head down on the table, "sobbing" as his stuttering defense lawyer presents his case. [[http://abnormaluse.com/2012/03/abnormal-interviews-my-cousin-vinny-actor-mitchell-whitfield.html 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.

* StillbornFranchise: 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). Joe Pesci's retirement ended any chance of it happening.

* {{Corpsing}}: Stan puts his head down on the table, "sobbing" as his stuttering defense lawyer presents his case. [[http://abnormaluse.com/2012/03/abnormal-interviews-my-cousin-vinny-actor-mitchell-whitfield.html In fact, the actor was trying to hide his laughter]]. Didn't help that the director was corpsing behind the camera at the same time.

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/FredGwynne spent decades trying to move beyond the role of [[Series/TheMunsters 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.

* DawsonCasting: Downplayed. Creator/JoePesci was 49 years old, playing a guy who just recently finished law school and has a 22-year-old cousin. Creator/MarisaTomei is 21 years younger than him. Then again, Vinny went to night school to be a lawyer, and quite obviously took longer than normal because he had to work at Lisa's father's garage at the same time. Given his lack of knowledge, he probably took a while to pass the bar. He also mentions that he only became interested after beating a ticket, so he easily could have started past the normal time.
** It's probably more of a case of Marisa Tomei PlayingGertrude. She mentions her "biological clock" which is a euphemism for a woman being concerned that she's getting too old to have children, something someone in her mid thirties is generally more likely to worry about compared to her late twenties.
** The cousin in question is also an example, being played by then 31 year old Creator/RalphMacchio yet just starting college. Note that this is after he played the title character in ''Film/TheKarateKid'' at 22. Though Macchio is able to get away with it due to [[OlderThanTheyLook famously looking much younger than his age, even now.]]

* DoingItForTheArt: 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.

** The cousin in question is also an example, being played by then 31 year old Creator/RalphMacchio yet just starting college. Note that this is after he played the title character in ''Film/TheKarateKid'' at 22.

** The cousin in question is also an example, being played by then 31 year old Creator/RalphMacchio.

* DawsonCasting: Downplayed. Creator/JoePesci was 49 years old, playing a guy who just recently finished law school and has a 22-year-old cousin. Creator/MarisaTomei is 21 years younger than him. Then again, Vinny went to night school to be a lawyer, and quite obviously took longer than normal because he had to work at Lisa's father's garage at the same time. Given his lack of knowledge, he probably took a while to pass the bar. He also mentions that he only became interested after beating a ticket, so he easily could have started past the normal time. It's probably more of a case of Marisa Tomei PlayingGertrude. He mentions being an actor 20 years ago. Which is bullshit, but he is still supposed to be that age.

* DarkhorseVictory: One of the most infamous in movie history. ''No one'' expected Marisa Tomei's nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars as pure comedy roles are often ignored by the Academy. Given the other four nominees were Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Davis, Joan Plowright and Miranda Richardson and it's no wonder Tomei was the odd woman out among the group. Thus, her victory was seen as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the Academy.

* DarkhorseVictory: One of the most infamous in movie history. ''No one'' expected Marisa Tomei's nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars. Given the our four nominees were Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Davis, Joan Plowright and Miranda Richardson and it's no wonder Tomei was the odd woman out among the group. Thus, her victory was seen as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the Academy.

** 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). Joe Pesci's retirement ended any chance of it happening.

** Dale Launer tried to get a sequel going for a while, which would have involved Vinny going to England for another trial. Joe Pesci's retirement ended any chance of it happening.

* DawsonCasting: Downplayed. Creator/JoePesci was 49 years old, playing a guy who just recently finished law school and has a 22-year-old cousin. Creator/MarisaTomei is 21 years younger than him. Then again, Vinny went to night school to be a lawyer, and quite obviously took longer than normal because he had to work at Lisa's father's garage at the same time. Given his lack of knowledge, he probably took a while to pass the bar. He also mentions that he only became interested after beating a ticket, so he easily could have started past the normal time. It's probably more of a case of Marisa Tomei PlayingGertrude.

* PlayingAgainstType: Fred Gwynne spent decades trying to move beyond the role of [[Series/TheMunsters 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.

* Some law schools [[ShownTheirWork actually use this movie]] when teaching courtroom procedures.