Almost Nobody Knows That Parts Of The Iconic Movie My Cousin Vinny Were Filmed In This Tiny Georgia Town
Peach State cinephiles are well aware that there have been plenty of television shows and movies filmed in Georgia. Some of our small towns have been featured in Hallmark Christmas movies, and you can take tours of Atlanta and Senoia to see spots from the hit zombie show The Walking Dead. Tens of thousands of people visit Savannah each year, hoping to see the scenery shown off in films like Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. One film made in Georgia that doesn’t get quite the hype it deserves is the 1992 comedy My Cousin Vinny. Nearly all of the movie was shot in Georgia, with the little city of Monticello providing the bulk of the scenery. Though it was made over 30 years ago, you can still see many of the spots from the film in Monticello today.
The movie was a hit when it was released, and doesn't get nearly the hype that it deserves today.
The film stars Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei, pictured with the Oscar she won for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film.
Though it was filmed in Georgia, the film takes place in small town Alabama. It portrays two New York college students (played by Ralph Macchio and Mitchell Whitfield) who are traveling through the state. The two stop at a Sac-O-Suds convenience store for snacks, and after they leave, the store clerk is killed in a robbery.
Unable to afford a lawyer, they hire Vinny Gambini, the cousin of one of the boys. He has only recently passed the bar exam and much of the film's humor comes from his brash antics.
All of the exterior courthouse scenes in the movie were filmed outside of the Jasper County Courthouse in Monticello. Most of the interior courtroom shots were filmed on a set built in a warehouse.
The scenes where Vinny and his fiancee, Mona Lisa Vito (played by Tomei) are driving around town were mostly filmed in Monticello.
Lisa loves animals and has dogs, rats, cats, guinea pigs, and snakes. She is passionate about animal rescue, particularly fixing stray cats. She also likes reading, playing Pokemon Go, and going to concerts. Her dog Cece is the best dog in the whole world. You can reach Lisa at lsammons@onlyinyourstate.com
