Factual error: In a wide shot of a battle, pictured in the background is a cooling tower for a nuclear plant. These did not exist during this time period.
Factual error: In the scene where Swofford is playing the bugle a water tower in the background has an Air Combat Command emblem which is used by the Air Force and would not be seen on a marine base.
Suggested correction: That part of the movie was filmed at a Naval Air Facility in my hometown. That movie theater where they were watching Apocalypse Now was also in the same said NAF.
Factual error: Throughout the film the two men wear modern rubber soled Army boots, not leather soled as they would have been at the time - particularly noticeable when they are trying to sleep in the woods, and also when they cut the telephone wires.
Factual error: Secretary of State John Hay is depicted issuing the order to "initiate hostilities" against Spain. Unfortunately, at the time we actually went to war with Spain, John Hay was not the Secretary of State. That position was held by William. R. Day. Hay did not become SofS until September of 1898, after most hostilities had ended.
Factual error: In the opening scene, the German soldiers are searching the Americans. They remove a package of Lucky Strike cigarettes from one of the Americans. This package has the red circle against the green background. Green ink was stopped in 1942 because it uses chromium for green pigment which was necessary for war production of steel. Slogan "Lucky Strike Greens Has Gone to War" was a big advertisement in 1942 with introduction of white background on package.
Factual error: When Hatsumomo wakes up late to torture little Chiyo again, her kimono is closed the wrong way.
Factual error: Throughout the movie, characters refer to the "Air Force", when in this time frame (1942-3) it was the "Air Corps".
Factual error: In the first scene, Iraq invades Kuwait City and the Kuwaitis flee from the theater into a sunny backdrop. The problem is that the invasion actually took place at 1:00AM Gulf time. I don't think there are many movie theaters open at 1:00 in the morning, and I don't think it's sunny then either.
Factual error: The Force 10 finally manage to escape of the German ammunition depot by train. However, when the train leaves the tunnel and the men jump off the train the engine is a modern red and white electric locomotive. Only one problem: Electric trains did not exist in Yugoslavia until 10 years later. The engine is a mid-60's Swedish type RC.
Factual error: There are a couple of references throughout the movie to Ralph Fiennes' character as an "American diplomat" "of the League of Nations". The United States was not a member of the League, so there were no "American diplomats", as such, working for the League.
Factual error: Many palace scenes in the mini-series are set in the Forbidden City. This is incorrect, as the Forbidden City was built under the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and not completed until about 1420, almost 100 years after Marco Polo's death.
Factual error: During the battle scene the voiceover says that it is February 1915. The battle being portrayed is obviously the Second Battle of Ypres because it involves Canadian troops and it's the first time that gas was used in the war. The actual battle didn't take place until the end of April 1915.
Factual error: In this scene we see two soldiers fire a heavy calibre machine gun into a armoured personnel carrier, which is only a few metres away. As they fire there is a two second delay, then we see the bullets hit the target vehicle. In reality there would not be a two second delay.
Factual error: In the entire movie it's quite obvious Sean Penn has a digital watch on, even though the face is on the inside of his wrist it is occasionally visible, and the modern rubber watch band also gives it away, especially in his close-ups.
Factual error: Bones calls the Drill Sergeant "Ma'am" or "Sir" several times and she never does anything. Anyone who has been through Army Basic Training can tell you, a Drill Sergeant will NEVER let "Sir" or "Ma'am" pass without comment. And this is not a character mistake, It would be like calling a Senator "Governor" or a Catholic preacher "Rabbi" and having them ignore it.
Factual error: Zuko pulls out a family portrait out of his shirt and the portrait looks nothing like the characters in the movie, they look more like the cartoon characters.
Factual error: Max and his family listen to a radio broadcast announcing the terms of the Versailles Treaty in Germany in 1919. Radio broadcasting first began in the United States in 1920 and began in Germany in 1923. Also, the radio they are listening to is a "cathedral" type that was not manufactured until the 1930s.
Factual error: In the very last scene the train is stopped by the Russian army and their tanks. The tanks are T-54's, which were not produced until 1955. (01:53:28)
Factual error: When the UBoat changes course, Andrews, operating the radar repeater, is immediately able to provide the bridge with the target's new course and speed. This would be impossible without extensive calculations and at least range and bearing plots once the target has steadied up on the new course, either figured on the scope screen or on a maneuvering board. One must remember that both vessels' courses and speeds must be taken into account when making computations, and the relative direction of a target's travel most often is not its true course.
Factual error: The movie takes place in 1868, and every guy and his dog are wielding cartridge conversion Army, Navy, and even what appears to be Walker colts. Unfortunately, such conversions were not performed until 1869, after Smith and Wesson's rights to the Rollin White patent expired.