Factual error: During the Thanksgiving sequence, all of the characters are outside in shirtsleeves. This is odd as by November, it is cold in Wisconsin.
Factual error: In one scene they are playing "Almost Like Song." Although it had someone singing it to give it an old timey sound, the song wasn't released until 1977, 12 years after this is set.
Factual error: The movie theater ticker says it's Monday, April 12th, 1997 - but the 12th was on a Saturday. (00:00:20)
Factual error: Throughout the story, the threat is that Viola is going to be shipped off to Virginia with Lord Wessex. Virginia did not exist until 1607, a good 20 years after this story was set.
Factual error: The wedding date is given as Saturday June 6, 2001. June 6, 2001 was a Wednesday, and City Hall is closed on Saturday.
Factual error: During Gavin Grey's first NFL game in 1957, the helmets depicted for both the Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers are historically inaccurate. The Redskins did not employ the burgundy helmets with the feather-stripe running along the center until 1958, and the Steelers didn't use black helmets with the Steelmark logo until 1963. In 1957, the Redskins used solid gold helmets while the Steelers used yellow helmets with a black stripe along the center and black numerals on either side.
Factual error: In the scene where Ms. Ungermeyer returns to the hotel and takes the elevator upstairs, Sergei detains her in the elevator (to give Lizzie time to get into her room) while the classmates, including Kate, walk up the stairs. Since the rooms were on the first floor, Kate should have reached her and Lizzie's room before Ms. Ungermeyer; however, they enter the room at the same time.
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: A very common error in First World War films. British soldiers were not permitted to shave their upper lips until 1916 - in 1914 almost all (unless physically unable to grow them) would have had moustaches.
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: When the Bronco is underwater at the end of the movie, Claire's hands are tied to the steering wheel. Doug rips the steering wheel off. Anyone who has worked on cars knows you need a puller to get a steering wheel off, you can't just rip it by hand.
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: The film is set in 1951 but Peter and Adele have their first dance to the tune "Stranger On The Shore" which was first released in 1961.
Factual error: The galley during the battle scene is rowed by slaves. Romans during this time period didn't use slaves to row their galleys. Rowers had to be able fight. If not, the Romans would be outnumbered 200 to 30 when they boarded the pirate ship as the pirates rowers would be able to fight.
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.