# My Cousin Vinny fact check **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2003, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620 "2003-09-14T21:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/21 "2003-09-15T22:08:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\*So is someone here gonna correct the IMDB? \*\* Already contacted them. Takes a while for them to catch up, you know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/22 "2003-09-15T23:17:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman \* > \*\*I’m not saying she was wrong, but personally If I was the prosecuter I would want some kind of proof that a fixed rear suspension could never make a track like that, cause it doesn’t seem an obvious truth to me. \*\* Not necessary, she had already proven that the Skylark could not have made those tracks. The positraction was just icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![digitalskeeza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@digitalskeeza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digitalskeeza)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/23 "2003-09-16T01:02:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Already contacted them. Takes a while for them to catch up, you know. 🙂 \*\* I’m actually a little disappointed that IMDb goofs were used as a reference on the SDMB…[Nitpickers](http://www.nitpickers.com) know better. 🙂 The “goofs” on the IMDb are user-submitted, and not too carefully checked for accuracy. IMDb is great for concrete facts, but for movie errors–give Nitpickers a try, but be careful not to get addicted…(you have been warned). The nitpicks are monitored by the inmates, many of whom are hopeless movie & arcane knowledge geeks. We are quite rabid about shooting down false nitpicks (and finding accurate ones). Mind you, there are still some erroneous nits, but FAR fewer than on IMDb… ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/24 "2003-09-16T08:24:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Not necessary, she had already proven that the Skylark could not have made those tracks. The positraction was just icing on the cake. Yeah, it’s mostly a nitpick. The fact that the Skylark didn’t have posi-traction or any limited slip differerential was all they really needed. If a skylark didn’t make those tracks then they weren’t the ones in the get away, which should be good enough for acquital. But since she went far enough to claim the tracks couldn’t have been made by a car with a fixed rear suspension, so it had to be Tempest; and the guy let that go a true, seems like bad prosecuting, cause that statement seems very doubtable to me. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/25 "2003-09-16T12:35:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman \* > \*\*But since she went far enough to claim the tracks couldn’t have been made by a car with a fixed rear suspension, so it had to be Tempest; and the guy let that go a true, seems like bad prosecuting, cause that statement seems very doubtable to me. \*\* Not much of a nitpick, IMO. I don’t see where the prosecutor could have taken this other than cast doubt on the Skylark positraction claim. The defence could easily clear that up, along with the independent suspension claim, by putting the prosecution’s expert back on the stand. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/26 "2003-09-26T19:12:47Z")
The IMDb has deleted the goof that **Number** quoted. I was trying to get it tagged as an “incorrectly regarded as a goof” but I’ll take what I can get. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/27 "2003-09-26T21:48:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by digitalskeeza \* > \*\*I’m actually a little disappointed that IMDb goofs were used as a reference on the SDMB…[Nitpickers](http://www.nitpickers.com) know better. 🙂 > \*\* True, but that’s made up for by the general lack of writing skills by the majority of the submitters. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vairshop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/46a35a/32.png) [@vairshop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vairshop)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/28 "2014-10-24T09:16:14Z")
hi all have had some thoughts ever since I saw this movie from a technical aspect about the car information presented in the trial. I realize the producers have taken some liberties with the facts to make the movie “work”, but as a ASE master technician, old car nut, and owner of a 61 tempest I will make these observations. 1. the tire size of the 64 special and 63 tempest is brought into evidence in the trial, a Michelin (G)75-14. (maybe it was an F size, can’t remember, but what’s important is a 14’ wheel.). that works for the Buick, but all 61-63 tempests use a 15 wheel. a 14" won’t fit because it will hit the outer tie rod end due to the smaller diameter. if you installed a 14" wheel with enough offset to get it away from the tie rod, the tire would then rub the fender. 2. it was stated the skylark couldn’t have posi, but it was a regular production option for it as well as the tempest. With the optional V8 engines, either car with optional posi could lay down a pair of nice burnout marks. As for the ability to discern whether the burnouts are made from the solid axle skylark or IRS tempest, both cars have the same rear wheel track- 58", so the skid marks would be the same width apart, and with the same tire, the same rubber mark left. there \*would \* be some variation in the width apart on the tempest _if_ the suspension was going through significant up/down travel, but from a standstill everything is static as far as the rear wheel camber. just some thoughts…enjoyed the movie anyway, rare we get some real automotive triva thrown in with the plot. larry claypool ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/29 "2014-10-24T09:42:40Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > I like this movie, and it’s fun hearing people talk about it, especially admiration for the Mona Lisa character. For all the crap Marisa Tomei has gotten over the years about her Oscar, I don’t think it can be argued that she didn’t give a great performance. Her Mona Lisa Vito was funny, quick, intelligent, trashy in a classy sort of way, and oh-so-New Yawk. > > Regarding the Oscars, I still think the other nominees (Joan Plowright, Miranda Richardson, Vanessa Redgrave and Judy Davis)cancelled each other out (really, how could you choose one over the other?), and Marisa had a slight (almost certainly not overwhelming) majority of votes, just enough to give her the win. They all deserved the Oscar. I was happy to see it go to her. > > Fred Gwynne also deserves praise for his Judge Chamberlain Haller (“what’s a yout?”). > > My favorite quote: > > Mona Lisa: “Imagine you’re a deer. You’re prancing around. You get thirsty. You spot a little brook. You put your little deer lips down to the clear water. BAM!! A fuckin’ bullet rips off part of your head! Your brains are lying on the ground in little bloody pieces. Now I axe ya, do you give a fuck what kind of pants the son-of-a-bitch who shot ya was wearing?!” I remember that Oscars “controversy”, although I couldn’t understand why at the time. I thought Marisa Tomei was fantastic. She is still one of my favorite actresses and I always found her acting to be great in all subsequent fims I’ve seen her in. And of course, I can’t deny I find her incredibly easy to look at.😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2014, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/30 "2014-10-24T13:10:43Z")
The reason why Tomei won the Oscar is simple: More people saw **My Cousin Vinnie** than saw the other four nominees combined. People don’t vote for performances they haven’t seen. It looks odd these days because the other four nominees are very well regarded actresses. Tomei – while a fine actress herself – is probably the least regarded of the four (it was a very strong field). But that didn’t matter. Only Vanessa Redgrave was known to the academy at the time, and her politics turned off a lot of voters. And, yes, there were screenings, but voters don’t go to all screenings (or view the VCRs; in 1991 not everyone had them). So they saw **My Cousin Vinny** and didn’t know the other performances. As for her testimony, it was well established she had worked in her brothers’ garage. Remember, she had also shown her expertise by answering a question that the prosecuting attorney asked her. > [@](#): > > D.A. Jim Trotter: Now, uh, Ms. Vito, being an expert on general automotive knowledge, can you tell me… what would the correct ignition timing be on a 1955 Bel Air Chevrolet, with a 327 cubic-inch engine and a four-barrel carburetor? > Mona Lisa Vito: It’s a bullshit question. > D.A. Jim Trotter: Does that mean that you can’t answer it? > Mona Lisa Vito: It’s a bullshit question, it’s impossible to answer. > D.A. Jim Trotter: Impossible because you don’t know the answer! > Mona Lisa Vito: Nobody could answer that question! > D.A. Jim Trotter: Your Honor, I move to disqualify Ms. Vito as a “expert witness”! > Judge Chamberlain Haller: Can you answer the question? > Mona Lisa Vito: No, it is a trick question! > Judge Chamberlain Haller: Why is it a trick question? > Vinny Gambini: [to Bill] Watch this. > Mona Lisa Vito: 'Cause Chevy didn’t make a 327 in '55, the 327 didn’t come out till '62. And it wasn’t offered in the Bel Air with a four-barrel carb till '64. However, in 1964, the correct ignition timing would be four degrees before top-dead-center. > D.A. Jim Trotter: Well… um… she’s acceptable, Your Honor. Her answer has to be correct or the DA would not say she was acceptable. Trotter has to know the answer or he won’t ask the question. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/31 "2014-10-26T19:45:19Z")
It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie, but do I remember correctly that before Vinny calls Mona Lisa to the stand, he is looking at the evidence about the car and gets a look on his face that indicates he recognizes that something’s off about the tracks? I remember thinking that he’s got it figured out and he’s only getting Mona Lisa on the stand because he can’t testify about it. He certainly had some reason to call her up. Oh, and I thought Fred Gwynne was great, too. My favorite line in the movie was (after Mona Lisa said she was Vinny’s fiancee) “Well, that explains the hostility.” ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/32 "2014-10-26T20:17:08Z")
A word on the car in question- it could have been optioned to have the following: all-aluminum V-8 in the front, transaxle in the rear with IRS, from GM in '63. (Other options were a four or regular cast iron V-8). The next car like that sold in the U.S. would be the '78 Porsche 928. Even in this old thread, early '60s GM innovation is largely forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/33 "2014-10-26T21:09:07Z")
> [@vairshop](#): > > 1. it was stated the skylark couldn’t have posi, but it was a regular production option for it as well as the tempest. With the optional V8 engines, either car with optional posi could lay down a pair of nice burnout marks. Are you sure? I’ve never really found a definitive answer for whether you could get a posi-traction rear end in a '64 Skylark but I’m leaning towards no. (I actually happened to have one for a while in the 90’s so got the “My Cousin Vinnie” talk a lot.) The Pontiacs were marketed as somewhat sporty but the small Buicks were pretty much GM’s idea of an economy car in 1964, and this was a bit before the days of _everything_ having a hopped-up version. > [@california\_jobcase](#): > > A word on the car in question- it could have been optioned to have the following: all-aluminum V-8 in the front, transaxle in the rear with IRS, from GM in '63. (Other options were a four or regular cast iron V-8). This is possibly the nitpickiest nitpick in the history of nitpickery, but the all-aluminum V8’s were only in '61 and '62, so the car you describe couldn’t be a '63. The Buicks switched to a larger displacement but only aluminum-head V8 in '63 (which would later go on to be the Rover V8) and they stopped offering them in the Pontiacs. From what I understand, the Tempests with Buick V8’s were pretty rare because in those days sharing engines between divisions at GM was unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/34 "2014-10-26T23:22:48Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Her answer has to be correct or the DA would not say she was acceptable. Trotter has to know the answer or he won’t ask the question. I love Vinnie’s “Watch this” - he knows Mona is going to knock it out of the park, and can’t help but want to share the joy. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/35 "2014-10-27T00:27:18Z")
OK then on the nitpick, but any car set up like a '61-'63 Tempest back then was a rare animal. Also, the only turbocharged cars sold anywhere back then were GM models (one a rear engined, air cooled flat six, the other an aluminum V8 in the front). ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/36 "2014-10-27T14:24:35Z")
> [@vairshop](#): > > 1. it was stated the skylark couldn’t have posi, but it was a regular production option for it as well as the tempest. With the optional V8 engines, either car with optional posi could lay down a pair of nice burnout marks. As for the ability to discern whether the burnouts are made from the solid axle skylark or IRS tempest, both cars have the same rear wheel track- 58", so the skid marks would be the same width apart, and with the same tire, the same rubber mark left. > there \*would \* be some variation in the width apart on the tempest _if_ the suspension was going through significant up/down travel, but from a standstill everything is static as far as the rear wheel camber. > just some thoughts…enjoyed the movie anyway, rare we get some real automotive triva thrown in with the plot. > larry claypool I think she says that the only car that fits the criteria of track and a posi is a Tempest or a Skylark - but only the Tempest could make the marks, because the marks can only be made by a car of that track with posi _and_ an IRS. If the Tempest has IRS, the tires will actually make even marks spinning the tires as one goes over the curb, because the tires/suspension can move independently of each other. If you have a solid rear axle, both tires will leave uneven marks as one travels up and down over the curb, changing the angle of the axle like a spool. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/37 "2014-10-27T18:28:33Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > OK then on the nitpick, but any car set up like a '61-'63 Tempest back then was a rare animal. Also, the only turbocharged cars sold anywhere back then were GM models (one a rear engined, air cooled flat six, the other an aluminum V8 in the front). Of course, the aluminum V8’s also weren’t really meant to be performance options (they were the “cheap” engine in the LeSabres.) The story supposedly goes that ALCOA cut GM a sweetheart deal and because of some weirdness in the metals market in the late 50’s they were supposed to be cheaper than a cast iron block. They had lots of casting problems, though, and the market conditions changed hence going to an iron block in '63 and then an entirely iron engine shortly thereafter. Also in the “rest of the story” department, in addition to licensing the design to Rover, they eventually sold it entirely to AMC who lopped two cylinders off to make a V6 they used in Jeeps, but eventually ended up selling it _back_ to GM in the late 70’s where it became the 90-degree 3.8L V6 that was ubiquitous on GM midsize cars in the 80’s through 2000’s. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/38 "2014-10-27T20:55:55Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie, but do I remember correctly that before Vinny calls Mona Lisa to the stand, he is looking at the evidence about the car and gets a look on his face that indicates he recognizes that something’s off about the tracks? I remember thinking that he’s got it figured out and he’s only getting Mona Lisa on the stand because he can’t testify about it. He certainly had some reason to call her up. This has always been my least favorite thing about this scene. Vinnie seems to figure out this bit of automobile arcana himself, and he’s just using her as a mouthpiece. It seems like it would fit better (especially the whole “learn to ask for help” lesson he seems to be learning at the end) if he called her without a set plan (or with a different plan entirely) as a last-minute “Hail Mary.” ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/39 "2014-10-28T14:45:08Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > This has always been my least favorite thing about this scene. Vinnie seems to figure out this bit of automobile arcana himself, and he’s just using her as a mouthpiece. It seems like it would fit better (especially the whole “learn to ask for help” lesson he seems to be learning at the end) if he called her without a set plan (or with a different plan entirely) as a last-minute “Hail Mary.” But that would mean Vinny did not win the case based on his own cleverness, but on dumb luck. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620/40 "2014-10-28T18:21:35Z")
> [@typoink](#): > > This has always been my least favorite thing about this scene. Vinnie seems to figure out this bit of automobile arcana himself, and he’s just using her as a mouthpiece. It seems like it would fit better (especially the whole “learn to ask for help” lesson he seems to be learning at the end) if he called her without a set plan (or with a different plan entirely) as a last-minute “Hail Mary.” But remember that it was precisely because Vinny knew this information that he was able to ask for a quick recess and get the sheriff to…on a hunch…run a check on any 1964 Buick Skylarks around the area. Yes, this could have been done after Mona Lisa testified but the judge had a call in to a clerk in New York and had an hour to win the case and get the hell out of Dodge. He would have run out of time had it been done that way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cousin-vinny-fact-check/201620.md?page=3)