My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Director:

Jonathan Lynn

Writer (WGA):

Dale Launer (written by)

Release Date:

13 March 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Truth, Justice And The Gambini Way.

Plot:

Two New Yorkers are accused of murder in rural Alabama while on their way back to college, and one of their cousins--an inexperienced, loudmouth lawyer not accustomed to Southern rules and manners--comes in to defend them.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Alabama | Murder | Jail | Trial

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Joe Pesci	...	Vinny Gambini
Ralph Macchio	...	Bill Gambini
Marisa Tomei	...	Mona Lisa Vito
Mitchell Whitfield	...	Stan Rothenstein
Fred Gwynne	...	Judge Chamberlain Haller
Lane Smith	...	Jim Trotter III
Austin Pendleton	...	John Gibbons
Bruce McGill	...	Sheriff Farley
Maury Chaykin	...	Sam Tipton
Paulene Myers	...	Constance Riley (as Pauline Meyers)
Raynor Scheine	...	Ernie Crane
James Rebhorn	...	George Wilbur
Chris Ellis	...	J.T.
Michael Simpson	...	Neckbrace
Lou Walker	...	Grits Cook
Kenny Jones	...	Jimmy Willis
Thomas Merdis	...	Man in Town Square
J. Don Ferguson	...	Guard #1
Michael Genevie	...	Guard #2
Jeff Lewis	...	Deputy #1
Ron Leggett	...	Deputy #2
Aubrey J. Osteen	...	Deputy #3
Larry Shuler	...	Hotel Clerk
Suzi Bass	...	Woman
Michael Burgess	...	Prison Van Driver
Bill Coates	...	Bailiff
Jill Jane Clements	...	Courtroom Clerk
Muriel Moore	...	Juror #1
Bob Penny	...	Juror #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Aaron Styles	...	Featured Juror (uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Lynn

Writing credits (WGA)
Dale Launer		(written by)

Produced by
Dale Launer	....	producer
Paul Schiff	....	producer

Original Music by
Randy Edelman

Cinematography by
Peter Deming

Film Editing by
Tony Lombardo
Stephen E. Rivkin

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
Victoria Paul

Art Direction by
Michael Rizzo
Rando Schmook

Set Decoration by
Michael Seirton

Costume Design by
Carol Wood

Makeup Department
Roseanne Griffith	....	assistant makeup artist
James Sarzotti	....	makeup artist: Mr. Pesci
Anthony Sorrentino	....	hair stylist: Mr. Pesci
Carmen Willis	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Leslie A. Leitner	....	post-production supervisor (as Leslie Leitner)
Mary McLaglen	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Capra III	....	first assistant director
Jeffrey Wetzel	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bob Baker	....	draper
Emilio Biasucci	....	painter
Cheri Candido	....	assistant props
Howard J. Clark	....	swing gang
Jeff Cleary	....	laborer
Michael S. Day	....	property master (as Michael Day)
Ron Edwards	....	sign painter
Carl Kyle F.	....	carpenter (as Carl Kyle Foster)
Andrés Gutiérrez	....	assistant carpenter
Betsy Holland	....	buyer
Jackie Johnson	....	carpenter
Tony Kupersmith	....	construction coordinator
Lisa Lawes	....	construction assistant
George A. Lee	....	carpenter
Alba Leone	....	lead person
Scott E. Lowes	....	swing gang
Alisa Lumbreras	....	painter
Patrick McCartin	....	construction first aid
Joseph Ott	....	carpenter
James F. Oñate	....	lead scenic
Fernando Paulete	....	assistant painter
Bob Renna	....	swing gang
Burges Richardson	....	carpenter
Angela Riserbato	....	construction foreman (as Angie Riserbato)
Julia Starr Sanford	....	draftsman (as Julie Sanford)
Larry C. Shepard	....	on-set scenic
James T. Short	....	painter
Michael P. Short	....	painter
Stuart Skrien	....	assistant carpenter
Lee Smith	....	laborer
Terry J. Smith	....	carpenter (as Terry Smith)
Wendy Smith	....	art department coordinator
Brian Stultz	....	scenic chargeman
Carlton W. Thompson Jr.	....	swing gang
David Tupper	....	laborer
James Whiting	....	carpenter
Jeff Wuesthoff	....	carpenter
Karen Young	....	on-set dresser
Tony Zupa	....	carpenter
Woody Thompson	....	swing gang (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robert J. Anderson Jr.	....	sound mixer (as Robert Anderson Jr.)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley walker
David Behle	....	sound recordist
Odin Benitez	....	sound effects coordinator
Gaston Biraben	....	sound editor
C.T.W.	....	sound editor
Pud Cusack	....	boom operator
Robert Fitzgerald	....	sound editor
Jeremy J. Gordon	....	sound editor
Douglas Greenfield	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Kevin Hearst	....	sound editor (as Raoul)
Alfred G. Heath	....	apprentice sound editor
Michael Hilkene	....	supervising sound editor
Ken J. Johnson	....	additional sound effects recordist
Jack Keller	....	sound recordist
Eric Lindemann	....	sound editor (as Eric W. Lindemann)
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley walker
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Mantano)
Whit Norris	....	cable operator
Mark Rathaus	....	sound editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wolf Schmidt	....	second assistant sound editor
Thomas W. Small	....	first assistant sound editor
Mark A. Tracy	....	apprentice sound editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Bryan	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dick Cross	....	special effects

Stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Adams	....	best boy grip (as Bob Adams)
Allen Barnwell	....	electrician
Peter Bennett Beal	....	rigging gaffer
Leonard Bishop	....	rigging grip
Lucius Bonneson	....	company grip
Scott Browner	....	first assistant camera
Steve Cohagan	....	best boy electric
R.L. Critters	....	electrician
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip
Ben Glass	....	still photographer
Kevin Hamm	....	electrician
Kimman Harmon	....	second assistant camera
Amy Hobby	....	additional assistant camera
Darryl Humber	....	company grip
Jerry Lee	....	company grip
Scott Porterfield	....	additional assistant camera
Mike Satrazemis	....	rigging grip (as Michael Satrazemis)
William J. Taylor	....	dolly grip
Chip Turner	....	gang boss
Dudley J. Voll	....	additional assistant camera (as Dudley Voll)
Rick A. West	....	gaffer
Daniel Aguar	....	grip (uncredited)
Scott Browner	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Jeff Funderburk	....	electrician (uncredited)
Jeff Funderburk	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Greg Morse	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shay Griffin	....	local casting
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Len Hunt	....	extras casting
Rachel Minster	....	casting assistant
Debra Zane	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Keller	....	wardrobe assistant
Daryl Kerrigan	....	key costumer (as Daryl A. Kerrigan)
Ann Miller	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Sharma Bennett	....	post-production assistant
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Tina Elfstrand	....	apprentice editor
Adam C. Frank	....	second assistant editor
Christopher Kroll	....	first assistant editor
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Steve Schoenberg	....	additional first assistant editor

Music Department
Elton Ahi	....	score mixer
François Blaignan	....	scoring crew
Gustavo Borner	....	scoring crew
Kathy Durning	....	supervising music editor
Dino Herrmann	....	scoring crew
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances (as Jill Myers)
Cybele O'Brien	....	assistant music editor
Joel Sill	....	music consultant
Scott Stambler	....	music editor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
C.P. 'Pop' Cook	....	driver
Fredna Cook	....	driver
Ray Cook	....	transportation coordinator
Sandra Cook	....	driver
Neil Edwards	....	driver: construction department
Scott Edwards	....	driver
Bob Foster	....	driver
William Gillespie	....	transportation captain (as Billy Gillespie)
Billy Harris	....	driver
Michael Horton	....	driver
Chris Johnson	....	driver: construction department
Joel Key	....	driver
Cecil Little	....	driver
Fred Pope Jr.	....	driver
Martha Pruette	....	driver
Ron Pruette	....	driver
Ted Robinson	....	driver: construction department
Oranz Walker	....	driver

Other crew
Susan Bierbaum	....	script supervisor
James Brandon	....	magic consultant
Randi Chernov	....	assistant: Mr. Schiff
Michael Day	....	third effects man
Tina Elfstrand	....	set production assistant
Scott Elias	....	location manager
Jon Fitzgerald	....	production assistant
Chris Furia	....	second assistant accountant
Nicole Furia	....	production accountant
Susan Genard	....	assistant: Mr. Lynn
Julie Hartley	....	production coordinator
Bryan Hudson	....	animal wrangler: The Animal Agency
Doug Knoll	....	legal technical advisor
Adena Lazan	....	first assistant accountant
Patrick McDill	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Morin	....	assistant: Mr. Pesci
Liz Schlick	....	assistant coordinator
Sarah Shields	....	set production assistant
L. David Silva	....	set production assistant (as David Silva)
J. Bradley Smith	....	assistant location manager
Susan Steinlauf-Pascal	....	unit publicist (as Susan Steinlauf)
Linda Ann Upton	....	first aid nurse
Albert B. Cooper IV	....	representative: Georgia Film Commission (uncredited)
Riley Kathryn Ellis	....	studio executive (uncredited)

Thanks
Len Levine	....	special thanks (as Leonard Levine)

Production Companies

• Palo Vista Productions
• Peter V. Miller Investment Corp.
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1992) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Beta (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Fox Video (1992) (USA) (VHS) (Pan and scan)
• Gativideo (1992) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Fox Network (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Manuel Salvador (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Fox Vidéo (????) (France) (VHS)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Dimension Sound  sound editing
• Lee Arrendale Correctional Institution  special thanks
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Major League Baseball Properties  special thanks
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  title design (as Saxon/Ross Film Design Inc.)
• The Animal Agency  animal wranglers
• Tomkats Catering  catering
• Tomkats Catering  craft service
• Triad Music  music editing
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 31328) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Alto, Georgia, USA

Company:

Palo Vista Productions

Trivia:

The prison scenes were filmed at Lee Arrendale Correctional Institute in Alto, Georgia. Though depicted in the film, the prison has neither a death row or death chamber facility. The prison was also the setting for the movie Unshackled (2000).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): The prosecution states that "verdict" is a term passed down from Olde English meaning "truth". The term was actually passed down from Middle English, which is quite different from Olde English, and is defined as "an opinion or judgment," and an opinion, by definition, does not represent truth, but the subjective conclusion that one comes to.

Quotes:

Vinny Gambini:[Vinny and Lisa receive their breakfast orders, Vinny looks at his skeptically] Whats this over here?
Grits Cook:You never heard of grits?
Vinny Gambini:Sure I've heard of grits. I just never actually *seen* a grit before.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Dr. Jay (#1.10)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

ARE YOU REALLY MINE

Brooklyn lawyer Pesci tries to save the "two yutes" from frying in the electric chair. Classic!

"My Cousin Vinny," along with the megahit "Goodfellas," put Pesci on the map. Of course, he's been in the Scorcese's previous hit "Raging Bull," but didn't get a hell of a lot of recognition at the time. Joe Pesci's character of Vincent LaGuardia Gambini is a landmark character in comedy history. When his New Yauker street smarts collide with Southern hospitality--brilliant fish-out-of-water humor ensues!

Of course, Pesci should've be given all the credit. Marisa Tomei, who RIGHTFULLY won the Supporting Oscar for her excellent performance (please don't believe that urban myth about Jack Palance calling out the wrong name!!), is hilarious as Pesci's fiance with a foul mouth, a smart a**, the heaviest Brooklyn accent and an incredible expertise in automobiles. This was also the movie that made Marisa a star, and a performance I commend to this day.

What can I say? This movie has some of the most priceless bits of comedy. One, of course, involves Pesci's pronunciation of the word "youth" which sounds like "yute." One underrated bit is the one where Pesci first meets his cousin's friend (Mitchell Whitfield) in the jail cell. His cousin (Ralph Macchio) is asleep and Pesci suddenly pays the friend a visit. He doesn't know Pesci is the lawyer, and assumes he's some guy who...wants to make him his b**ch. The comic dialogue in that scene is so perfectly executed and I feel it's one of the funniest in the movie. I'm not going to give away any more of the film's slick, intelligent humor--You have to see it for yourself!!!

If you're in the mood for a smart, well-written, well-acted comedy that will have you on the floor--look no further! "My Cousin Vinny" doesn't disappoint in any of those aspects. This is a truly memorable piece of comedy, and though it was released in 1992, I'm sure comedy lovers will pay homage to this movie in the present day.

My score: 8 (out of 10)