Factual error: When Goodspeed crashes the Ferrari, his airbag deploys and he must shoot it to get out of the car. In reality, airbags inflate and deflate again in less than a second - the gas escapes through vents or the material itself, so there's no way for one to stay inflated.
Factual error: In the beginning of the movie William supposedly boards the train in Lincoln, Nebraska. All the vehicles in the train are from Europe and never rolled in the United States. (00:03:35)
Factual error: In the gunfight on the Nile-boat, you can often see (and hear) Rick fire his revolvers 20-24 times in totum without reloading. The guns he has would only take 6 rounds per gun (MAS 1873 revolvers).
Factual error: The action takes place around the second half of June (either side of the Glastonbury festival weekend). At the beginning of the film leaving work early evening in time to get home for dinner, in the UK, it wouldn't be dark. Later on, there isn't that much snow in the Alps, especially below the tree line, at that time of year.
Factual error: The actual Tsavo lions responsible for the killings had no manes - see for yourself; they are on display at the Field Museum in Chicago. [The filmmakers employed artistic license in using maned lions. They were also certain to include - at the very end of the movie - footage of the real Tsavo man eaters, as they appear in the Field Museum.]
Factual error: Near the end of the film Butch is complaining about the living conditions they have to endure - jungles, swamps, snakes, night work - and Sundance sarcastically retorts "Bitch, bitch, bitch!" In 1908 the term meant just what it literally means: "Female dog." It did not adopt its current meaning of "complain" until much later. At the time the film is set - outside the context of "female dog" - it was considered to be a serious obscenity, and it would not have been used to describe something as ordinary as someone moaning about his living conditions.
Factual error: When Oddjob has the Lincoln crushed at the junkyard, it is smashed into a small rectangle, and dropped into the little falcon pickup. Even though the crushed car fits into the bed of the Falcon, it still weighs at least 2 tons. That weight would have dropped the back of the truck to the ground, but the truck doesn't even squat a few inches, let alone being able to handle that load with the tyres it has. (01:16:55)
Factual error: The word "intel", used several times, is first recorded in 1961. It certainly wasn't in use in 1918.
Factual error: When the air hose on the truck is severed, the brakes release. In reality, on an air-braking system, if the air hose is severed, the brakes lock on as a safety measure.
Factual error: When Sam climbs outside the ship he grabs the frozen metallic pipes and rails with both hands - one half covered with a glove, one is bare. He has no problem gripping the cold metal and he can get his hands free every time. If the moisture froze before contact, his hands would be frozen too, so that can't be the reason.
Factual error: The elevator Cade leaves because there's "too much weight" shows in the next scene a weight limit of 680kg. Even if the four passengers weighed 90kg each (a total of 360kg) it would mean the seed weighed more than 320kg (over 700lb), which would mean that Joyce would never be able to carry it alone as he did several times.
Factual error: When the action moves to England after the failed award ceremony, the British Union Flag hanging from the wall is upside down. The broad white band should be at the top left (nearest the top of the flag pole).
Factual error: The crescent as emblem on Saracen pennants is anachronistic as it appeared on Islamic military flags no sooner than the 15th century A.D.
Factual error: There is a scene with several flags hanging on the wall of the castle. These are supposed to be flags in the Middle Ages. However, one of them is the present day banner of the Hungarian Republic (where part of the movie was shot).
Factual error: The Saint steals gold. One gold bar in this movie measures 30cm x10cm at the base and 7 cm high with a 10 degree draft angle. That means about 2.1 liter size and weight of 40 kg for one gold bar. The Saint moves bars with one hand from the briefcase to the backpack, can run and hit etc. The backpack would weigh 240kg and somehow a man runs off with it one one hand. (00:07:00 - 00:11:50)
Factual error: There would not be so many people standing around on the flight deck without some type of ear and eye protection and a float coat.
Factual error: After breaking out of prison, Paddington contacts the Browns using his 50p coin to make the phone call. It is actually 60p to make a public phone box call in the UK.
Factual error: In the scene in the 'cattle car' the shadow and light from outside the bars is moving across Kyle's face as he is talking. But unless the light source moves relative to the shadow source, a shadow will not move. But the light source was just outside daylight - and not direct sunlight - so the shadow inside would not have moved.
Factual error: In the scene straight after the opening credits we are taken to Baker Street where construction work is being done. This work is identified by a sign with a logo as being for the underground line. The logo type face was developed by a Mr. Edward Johnston for London Underground from 1913 but the distinctive typeface used in the film was not in place until 1919. This is obviously long after the 1891 setting of the film.
Factual error: When they are trying to navigate the shuttle through Eadu, the shuttle abruptly collides with a rock, which causes Bodhi to jolt backwards. If the shuttle hitting the rock had caused the shuttle reduce speed so abruptly, in the way that was shown, then Bodhi would have jolted forwards, not backwards. (00:57:05)