Factual error: In scenes that take place in 1912 on the porch of the hotel you can sometimes see American flags in the background. The flags in the movie have 50 stars. The 50 star flag wasn't adopted until after 1959. (Time)
starring Christopher Plummer, Christopher Reeve
Factual error: In scenes that take place in 1912 on the porch of the hotel you can sometimes see American flags in the background. The flags in the movie have 50 stars. The 50 star flag wasn't adopted until after 1959. (Time)
Factual error: When Richard and Elise are walking down a hallway, he asks when the acting company will leave. Notice the two doors they pass on their left. The doorknobs are modern replacements with large, shiny brass plates that reinforce the door for better security, commonly retrofitted during 1960-1980 in public buildings with older "skeleton key locks". They are seen during the 1980 scenes, but in 1912 they should not be there. Interior locks of that era usually had smaller plates, like the one Richard first sees in the occupied guest room.
Continuity: When Richard discovers the old registration book in the hotel attic, he appears to find his signature on the left hand page. When, in 1912, he actually signs the register, he signs on the right hand page. Strangely, the pen and inkwell are located to the left of the register, which would be inconvenient for all but left-handed customers.
Continuity: When he's tied up in the stable, Richard knocks down and breaks a lantern to cut himself free. He then sits directly in front of it to cut his bonds, and doesn't move to either side before standing up. When he does stand, though, the broken lantern is suddenly more than a foot to his left instead of behind him. (Time) Submitted by Jean G
Continuity: Near the end of the movie, C. Reeve is seated at a table on the lawn, and C. Plummer approaches, with the intent of encouraging C. Reeve to leave town. As they are talking, the camera goes back and forth between them. Whenever the camera is focused on C. Reeve, he is enjoying either a full meal or a cup of coffee.
Continuity: Richard comes from the elevator holding a TWO color book, 40 seconds later he goes into the Hall of History holding a ONE color book with both hands, 5 steps later and there's no book at all. (Time) Submitted by PanchoLopezAutlan1947
Factual error: In the final sequence, Richard Collier is shown sitting in a chair where, as others break into his room, we are lead to believe "he had been for days". Yet his hair is clean and combed, his clothing seems immaculate, and apart from some makeup, he shows no sign of any mental or physical problems.
Continuity: During their "picnic" in the hotel room, Elise asks Richard what time it is. As he says that he doesn't care, his hands are both down and out of frame. When the angle changes, his right hand is suddenly raised to chin level, holding the champagne glass, with no time for a natural transition to that pose. (Time) Submitted by Jean G
Factual error: When Richard Collier first arrives in 1912, the woman getting dressed in the hotel room is humming "You Made Me Love You," a song not published until 1913. It was first recorded by Al Jolson in June of 1913. The lady in the hotel shouldn't have known it yet. (Time) Submitted by Jean G
Continuity: When Richard is first speaking into his tape recorder in his hotel room, there is a beige "touchtone" telephone in the background. When Arthur is using the telephone at the end of the movie, it has changed into a rotary dial phone (it is evident when you hear Arthur dial 0 for the hotel operator).
Revealing: When Richard first wakes up after travelling through time, he's supposed to be lying on a couch. Yet there is a wall behind him. It's blatantly obvious that it's the same shot from the modern bedroom, and all they did was change the lighting. (Time)
Continuity: When Richard is searching the library for information about Elise, he turns several pages of a journal. He finds the photograph of the old lady, but that page had writing on it in the previous shot. (Time)
Continuity: When Richard Collier is leaving Chicago near the beginning of the film, he is seen driving past the John Hancock Tower. The sky is overcast and the clouds so low that the top of the building cannot be seen. In the next shot, however, skies are partly cloudy and the building can be seen in its entirety.
Plot hole: Richard eventually manages to travel back in time by removing all the modern items from his room. But what about the spotlights above his bed? (Time)
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