Magnum Force

Magnum Force (1973)

2 factual errors - chronological order

(8 votes)

Factual error: When the pimp murders the hooker in the taxi, he is said to have forced drain cleaner down her throat. However, he uses an aerosol can. You can even hear the metal ball shaking inside of it several times. In the 1970s, drain cleaner did come in metal cans, but what he is using is a spray can of some kind, which drain cleaner did not come in. It is always in liquid form to pour down a drain, spray would not release enough.

Factual error: The woman walking past waiting fares, saying "excuse me, this is important." She gets into the right rear door of a 1963 Chevrolet, with flat door sill. In the interior of the car there is "Kick Up" in the doorsill, and a Ford door release handle, flush with the side trim. The 63 Chevy had different handles.

Continuity mistake: Motorcycles used by traffic officers throughout the movie are Moto Guzzi V7 850. In the scene on the docks, two officers arrive on Moto Guzzis, but the moment they ride up the narrow ramp, they suddenly ride Triumph Bonnevilles. The two Triumphs are slightly different. Trained eyes can tell that the traffic cop and Callahan use them interchangeably, switching back and forth a few times. (01:45:45 - 01:52:55)

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Trivia: Clint Eastwood was initially asked to direct, but declined. Ted Post, who had previously directed Eastwood in Hang 'Em High, stepped into the director's seat. However, interviews with Eastwood have indicated that he and second unit director Buddy Van Horn actually directed more of this movie than Post did, due to a number of creative differences. Eastwood and Van Horn would go on to direct the final two entries in the Dirty Harry series, Sudden Impact and The Dead Pool, respectively.

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Question: I understand the concept of spelling mistakes and an editor accidentally missing them, especially for an unknown actor's name. But how did "Callahan" end up getting misspelled when it was spelled correctly in the first film? Has any reason been given? Or if there someone with general knowledge of how end credits are produced, is there no editor?

Bishop73

Chosen answer: The error didn't necessarily start with the makers of the credits. It could have crept into the process at any point. Whoever typed up the names to give them to the technicians who made the credits could have misspelled the name.

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