Name:
Date:
Courtroom Comparison: 12
Angry Men & My Cousin Vinny
As you watch My Cousin Vinny, use this sheet to compare its courtroom
drama with Reginald Rose's play 12 Angry Men. Fill in the details for both
cases as the film progresses.
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Did you know? My Cousin Vinny is widely considered by lawyers, judges, and law
schools as one of the most legally accurate films ever made. Unlike most Hollywood
dramas, it is praised as a perfect teaching tool for proper courtroom procedure, rules
of evidence, and effective cross-examination.
Feature
The Crime
What was the
charge?
The Accused
Who is on trial?
Briefly describe
them.
The Defense
Describe the
accused's legal
representation.
Key Witnesses
Who testified
for the
prosecution?
12 Angry Men
My Cousin Vinny
The Evidence
What physical
evidence or
testimony was
most crucial?
Witness Testimony Review & Comparison
While watching the courtroom scenes in My Cousin Vinny, pay close attention to how the defence
challenges the eye-witnesses. Complete the table below to review their testimony and compare
it to the issues with witness reliability in 12 Angry Men.
Witness & Testimony
Mr. Tipton (Grits
Witness)
He claims he looked out
his window and saw the
defendants fleeing
exactly 5 minutes after
they arrived.
Mr. Crane (Dirty
Window Witness)
He claims he had an
unobstructed view of the
defendants fleeing from
his window.
Mrs. Riley (Thick Glasses
Witness)
She claims she saw the
defendants from her
house, about 100 feet
away.
How Vinny Debunks It (My
Cousin Vinny)
Similar Witness Issue in 12
Angry Men
Post-Viewing Reflection
1. In 12 Angry Men, Juror 8 methodically breaks down the prosecution's evidence. Choose one
piece of evidence from My Cousin Vinny and explain how Vinny (or Mona Lisa Vito) debunked it in
a similar way.
2. 12 Angry Men focuses almost entirely on the jury's deliberation, while My Cousin Vinny
focuses on the defence lawyer in the courtroom. How does this difference in perspective change
the way the audience understands the justice system?
Answer Key