Best action movie mistakes of 1979

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Apocalypse Now picture Apocalypse Now mistake picture

Revealing mistake: In the major helicopter scene when Ride of the Valkyries is played, the actual tape isn't going over the playing heads. (00:37:29)

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The Warriors picture

Continuity mistake: After Ajax is arrested Swan goes to the station with "tough chick", the first time you see the train platform it's empty but a few seconds later a man has appeared from nowhere, then a policeman sees Swan and chases him and the man has once again vanished. (00:55:25)

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Moonraker picture

Factual error: Although it's already been mentioned that the scene of the shuttle being stolen from the back of the 747 is impossible because the shuttle wouldn't be fueled while being transported, it should also be noted that even if the shuttle was fueled, it would still be just as impossible. During the getaway, the thieves ignited the shuttle's three main engines to get free of the 747 and escape. The thing is, the shuttle's main engines are fueled entirely by the large external tank the shuttle and the solid fuel boosters are attached to during liftoff, and once the tank is jettisoned, these engines cannot be used. The only engines the shuttle's internal fuel feeds are the reaction control thrusters and the Orbital Maneuvering System (which are the two smaller engines located in the bulges just above the main engines). Both the RCS thrusters and OMS engines are almost totally useless within the atmosphere, so even if the thieves managed to get the shuttle free of the 747, they could only get it as far as it would glide unpowered. In fact, they could probably get it further if it wasn't fueled. It should be noted that this is not a fictional, futuristic spacecraft. It's a bog standard shuttle, stolen from NASA, on the back of the modified 747 used by them to transport the orbiter from its landing site to Cape Canaveral.

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Rocky II picture

Continuity mistake: When Apollo Creed is approaching the ring for the rematch at the end of the film, his robe starts off done-up, next shot shows it undone and the towel around his neck loose, and then in the last shot it's back to being neat again with the robe done up. Even when he enters the ring it's all neat and tidy. (01:32:40)

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Escape from Alcatraz picture

Factual error: In the opening scene that shows San Francisco scenery there is a shot of a large TV tower called Sutro Tower. The film takes place in 1960 and Sutro Tower wasn't built until 1973.

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The Castle of Cagliostro picture

Continuity mistake: Lupin's car windows are blown away in the car chase, and he and Gingen break all the remaining shards of glass from them. They then return again when lupin pulls up to the princess' car, then disappear in the following shot.

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Hanover Street picture

Continuity mistake: When Halloran sets the barn on fire to distract the Germans he lights up some straw with a match. All of a sudden you see flames flickering up at various places which could not be caused by the fire he made. (01:32:45)

NancyFelix

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Escape to Athena picture

Continuity mistake: Following the shoot out between the Germans and the Greek partisans being aided by the English and American POW's, a German Officer leaps onto a motorbike and takes off into the narrow streets of the village. An American follows on a motorbike and sidecar. Towards the end of the chase the bikes 'jump' over a cart. The German Officer's cap flies off, yet as he tears into a courtyard he has his cap back on.

Phillip Churchfield

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The Black Hole picture

Factual error: In the PALOMINO scenes, Anthony Perkins wears a long lab coat. In most of the scenes, it hangs straight down; but in the low gravity aboard the ship it should be flattering about (that's why such loose garments are not worn by real-life cosmonauts; they would be a hindrance).

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Drunken Master 2 picture

Audio problem: During the last fight between Jackie Chan and that well-dressed man, after the man gets his vest torn off by Chan, there passes a fight sequence with no audio whatsoever; you would expect to hear grunts and groans and hits, but some seconds pass with no audio.

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The In-Laws picture

Continuity mistake: During the time when Vince and Sheldon are on the highway, in the cab fleeing the bad guys in Tijada , the same cars can be seen over and over again between shots.

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The Wanderers picture

Continuity mistake: When the 2 wanderers are strolling, at the very beginning of the movie, a boom mike keeps getting reflected on all the cars.

Sacha

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The Lady Vanishes picture

Continuity mistake: When Amanda rushes to get onto the bus to the train station, the door being opened is at the front LEFT of the bus (as viewed from the back). On arrival at the station (5 scenes later), the door opens at the front RIGHT of the bus (as viewed from the back), and in the second camera shot, the driver of the bus can be clearly seen sitting where the door Amanda used to board the bus would be, with no door there.

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City on Fire picture

Visible crew/equipment: A woman runs away from a hospital. When she runs past a wrecked vehicle you can see the shadow of a camera. (01:17:00 - 01:17:50)

Regulus

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Jin bi tong picture

Continuity mistake: When the first trooper falls dead on the crates at the beginning of the movie, there's a continuity error since his hand changes position on the crate between shots. (00:00:55)

Sammo

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Beyond the Poseidon Adventure picture

Continuity mistake: When the purser's safe falls through the ceiling, we get to see the safe come to a rest, and we can see the door to the safe is still perfectly in position and still closed. The next shot looking down on the safe now shows the safe with the door now fully opened.

GalahadFairlight

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