Factual error: Although quite typical for biopics of this era, certain aspects of Cohan's life are glossed over. The movie shows him in a lifelong marriage to his first love. However, he was in fact married in 1899 to Ethel Levy, and after their divorce in 1907 he married Agnes Mary Nolan, who remained his wife until Cohan's death in 1942.
Factual error: The opening scene of the film, with a woman singing "For Your Country and My Country" at a bond rally, is supposedly set in 1917, but her hair and clothing are pure 1940's: calf-length skirt and curled shoulder-length hair, neither of which was acceptable attire for a lady in 1917.
Factual error: In the famous tugboat scene, Fannie rides out on a New York Central tugboat painted jade green - a color which wasn't instituted on the boats until the early 1960s. To be accurate, the tugboat would have to have been painted red with a black stack and the New York Central logo.
Factual error: In the final scene of the movie Elvis and Shelley Fabares are driving in his sports car along a seaside highway outside of Miami Beach. There are mountains along the coast in the background. There are no mountains in Florida.
Factual error: When speaking to a member of the the Royal Family in Siam (modern day Thailand), one have to speak "rachasap" or Royal Thai. The movie depicts characters speaking colloquial Thai to the King.
Factual error: The alligator mentions wanting a Bananas Foster. This dessert was invented in 1951 but this movie takes place in 1926.
Factual error: In the scene where Dave is playing cards with soldiers, some of the paper money being gambled is a design of U.S. money not introduced until about 30 years later.
Factual error: When we see Elton John's father Stanley in RAF uniform at the beginning of the film he is wearing other ranks' uniform. Stanley was commissioned in 1944, three years before Elton was born, and served as a commissioned officer until his retirement as a squadron leader in 1963. He should be wearing officer's uniform.
Factual error: After Albert feeds the pill to the turtle, you see a close up of its eyes, which are blue. Turtles only have either brown or red eyes, not blue.
Factual error: There is a scene with Gene Kelly dancing at the top of the steps in Montmartre, opposite Sacre Coeur Basilica. In the background you see the lights of the Eiffel Tower. I have seen the view from the top of these steps, and the Eiffel Tower is not visible.
Factual error: When they go to visit the Queen, the Union flag is being flown above Buckingham Palace. The Union flag is only flown when the Queen is not in residence. As the Queen is in residence, the 'Royal Standard' flag should be flown. And anyway, the Union flag has only been flown at the palace since the death of Princess Diana in 1997. (00:43:00)
Factual error: In the time Cry Baby is based, there was racial tension (the judge even makes a racist remark). The jails would have been segregated until 1965, yet when Cry Baby goes to jail, both white and black people are in the scene. That would only ever happen during rec time and meals.
Factual error: In the movie, the over is shown to be of six balls. In 1896 the British played cricket with a five ball over.
Factual error: When Troy calls to Gabriela from the rooftop, the clock on the school's facade reads about 7:46, but the sun is almost directly overhead. There's no way it's quarter to eight in the morning.
Factual error: The main character is being wooed by Lockheed - an aircraft company, whose representative then gives him gifts for his kids - one of which is a desk model of an aircraft, however it is of an aircraft produced by one of Lockheed's competitors - Grumman, which would be akin to a GM rep giving a toy Ford Mustang as a gift. Both companies continue to remain competitors as Lockheed-Martin and Northrop-Grumman since the government vetoed a proposed merger back in 1998, and at no time have the two companies collaborated on a major project.
Factual error: When Scrooge is in the carriage with his girlfriend in the back, on the hill you can see a white van go past.
Suggested correction: I have replayed that scene over and over and I couldn't see a white van pass by.
Factual error: The type of hanging equipment they have when they are about to hang the monk wasn't used until the 19th century, while the third crusade which King Richard is out fighting was in the 12th century.
Factual error: When Mary and the children go to the bank the long shot of the bank shows a statue that was not erected until 1994.
Factual error: This film is set in the 1960's. The Ford transit van belonging to Russell, the group's roadie, is a facelifted 1971 model.
Factual error: At Portobello Market, when the kids are eating, there's a sign that reads "cookies." No chance there would have been anything like that in 40's London. It would definitely have read "biscuits."