Factual error: When Tommy and Kathy go to visit the madame, that part of the movie is set in 1994, but we see two cars that don't fit in that year: a gray 1997-2004 Volkswagen Passat that drives past, and a gray 1996-1999 Citroen Saxo parked a few meters away from madame's house. (01:21:20)
Factual error: The cavalry sing Low Bridge (or Fifteen Years On The Erie Canal) as they trek across Texas in 1879. This was written by Thomas S. Allen in 1905 during the time the Erie canal was switched from mule power to engine power. (00:49:00)
Factual error: Mrs. Loving washes Corelle dishes after dinner with the Life magazine photographer. Those photos were in 1965 and Corelle dishes were not introduced until the 1970's. (01:27:00)
Factual error: In one scene, Vada is showing off her mood ring. The movie is set in 1972 and mood rings were not created until 1975.
Factual error: Novorski buys a small hamburger at Burger King for 74 cents. Airport fast food restaurant menus are priced higher than restaurants in the city. Even if a dollar menu was available (usually not at airport locations), you can't get a burger at an airport for 74 cents.
Factual error: In the swimming pool scene from Max and Fanny's childhood, there is a modern inflatable plastic pool chair that would not have been available at that time. (01:42:40)
Factual error: After putting Jenna in the closet, everyone crowds together and plan to leave. One girl holds a diet coke can, which is obviously a more modern design, and not from 1980's. (00:10:30)
Factual error: In Federal Reserve cash processing facilities, multiple denominations of money are never allowed to mingle.
Factual error: Roberta has a Meet The Brady Bunch record on her desk. The release date for this record was 1972, yet this film is set in the summer of 1970. (00:12:55)
Factual error: After Zidler tells Satine that she is dying, he is seen walking up a stairway past some sewing women. In an overview of the stairs, a stage light to the left has about a dozen or so frosted light bulbs in it. Frosted, tungsten light bulbs were not invented until the mid-to-late 1920s. Any electric light in 1900 would have had clear, carbon-filament bulbs. And no, those are not glass shades over the bulbs.
Factual error: When Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise arrive in America, the year is 1892, but the flags being passed out at the pier have 50 stars on them. In 1892, there were 44 states.
Factual error: When Cecelia and her friends are in the car, following Aquamarine, Hailey, and Claire to the water tower, they aren't that far away - probably less than thirty feet - yet the other girls don't hear their car approaching.
Factual error: When it's 1969 we see a boy (I'm not sure which one so you'll have to look) riding a Shwinn Sting-Ray Krate Grey. That bike didn't come out until 1971 and they only made them that one year. (00:02:45)
Factual error: In the scene that takes place in Ollie's office after the death of his wife, he is talking to Arthur Brickman who is sitting in front of a plaque for the band Songs:Ohia's album, "Ghost Tropic." We know that the scene is happening 7 years in the past, because Gertie is a baby. "Ghost Tropic" wasn't released until November of 2000.
Factual error: The frozen treats used at certain points in this movie are labeled with nutrition labels found in the U.S. today. The labels looked extremely different in the 70's.
Factual error: In the opening day clips, they show 49, Tim Wakefield, starting. The starting pitcher that day was 38 Curt Schilling (Wakefield never played that day). Furthermore, the clips show them playing against the Texas Rangers; opening day 2004 was against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Suggested correction: Not Curt Schilling, Bronson Arroyo started the home opener against Toronto in 2004.
Factual error: Early in the movie when the interior of the downed aircraft is shown (underwater in Chesapeake Bay), with the eerie picture of Dutch's wife and the congresswoman's husband sitting underwater in first class with their hair waving slowly in the current, they are shown on the right side of the aircraft (the left side as we are looking at them, but the right side of the plane proper). Yet, when the airline representative is discussing this "problem" (non-married-to-each-other people apparently flying as a couple), they are announced as sitting in row X (don't remember), seats A and B. Aircraft seating is always done from left to right - i.e., the A and B seats would be on the other, or left, side of the aircraft.
Factual error: The mansion Allie is staying in over the summer is Boone Hall Plantation in South Carolina, near Charleston. It was built in the 1930's, so factually the house couldn't have been in the family as long as the characters make it seem. A lot of the filming was also done in Kiawah, an island near Folly Beach.
Factual error: One of Angel's lyrics (in "Today For You, Tomorrow For Me) refers to the movie "Thelma and Louise." Rent (the movie) is set in 1989-90. "Thelma and Louise" was released in 1991. This was caused when they did the move from Broadway to the screen. The stage show did not specify the year. So when they adapted the stage show to the movie, they didn't check the references. Plus it just sounds cool. (00:28:25)
Factual error: When you first see Sam he is supposed to be in America, but when you see out of the window as he is leaving, you can see the Gherkin building in London. He is actually in the Lloyd's Building, but to add to the illusion of being in America, he is picked up by a Yellow Cab.