Factual error: In the final scene, where Fonda and Holbrook are looking over the carrier at the crowds on the dock, you can see that only the first rows of people are dressed in period clothes. The rest of the crowd are dressed as they would have been in 1976 when the film was made. Also, between them in the background is a yellow Ford Pinto.
Factual error: The train consists of nine cars - six RIC cars of the Swiss Federal Railways (two 1st class with nine compartments each, two 2nd class with eleven compartments each, one 2nd class with twelve compartments, and one dining car between the classes), an MU sleeping car belonging to the CIWL (International Dining And Sleeping Car Company) between the two first class coaches, and at each end one older Swiss baggage car. The first class has 108 seats, the second class has 204 seats, and the sleeping car has 36 berths; so the train has space for 348 passengers - or 400, adding the 52 restaurant places. I wonder where they put 1,000 people on this train.
Factual error: In the aerial shot over rural Britain near the beginning of the movie, there are two modern cars visible. Too new to be early 40's models.
Factual error: The opening montage depicting Books's past exploits mentions a Colt .45 and shows a single action Colt revolver being fired. The date indicated on the screen is 1871. This revolver was not manufactured until 1873.
Factual error: In the DVD theatrical trailer for "Carrie," Stephen King's name is misspelled. It is spelled "Steven".
Factual error: When Harry shoots the last badguy in the tower with a LAW, the safety of the weapon is still on. The pin to arm it has to be pulled out. If it were armed, you would see a little pin, instead of little block, between Harry's little finger and his ringfinger. (01:28:35)
Factual error: The gatling gun that Josey Wales uses had the options of a 40 round magazine, or a 104 round drum magazine. Neither Josey or the Red Legs ever bothered to reload the weapon. The gun would have been empty after the 10 barrels revolved at most 10 times. Josey alone shoots for a couple of minutes straight.
Factual error: In the story that Schumacher tells Howard Beale in the beginning of the film, he says that in 1951 he was sent on a remote to cover the opening of the lower level of the George Washington Bridge. The lower level, in fact, did not open until 1962.
Factual error: About 3/4 into the movie, in the scene where Woody is looking for a place to sleep, he comes upon this other man in a bunk. The guy in the bunk asks Woody if he wants to share his blanket with him because it is cold. Arlo does. In the next scene, outside, it shows the steam locomotive, and to the left of the steamer is a diesel locomotive. It is a Western Pacific GE logo. The movie is 1936 and WP diesels didn't show up till 1953. I was there.
Factual error: Travis begins the movie at 26 years old, and reports leaving the army with honorable discharge in May 1973. His first diary entry just after being hired is "May 10th." In the newspapers at the end he is still 26, and it says that he has been a taxi driver for 6 months. The movie obviously does not take place in winter, and the only months referenced (plus the timeline of a presidential nomination) are June and July. Besides, 1973 would not be the right year for a story set just before a presidential election, unlike 1976 when the movie came out.
Suggested correction: This error is based on the assumption that he had just been discharged. I don't remember anything in the movie to indicate that as opposed to being discharged three years earlier.
The articles at the end of the movie say "Travis Bickle, 26, has been a taxi driver for six months since he came to New York upon leaving the Service where he fought in a special forces unit in Viet Nam" (sic). I think it's fairly obvious from the context too that he hasn't had much experience with 'real life' after 'Nam, surely not 3 years. The original script didn't have this discrepancy, by the way, because the date of his discharge was May 1971, which would account for just about enough months of difficult civilian life to get involved in the 1972 Presidential race.
Factual error: St. Ives is invited to sit in a Lincoln Continental. When he does, one of the owner's subordinates opens fire with a machine gun having what appears to be a 50-round clip. Problem is, he fires over a hundred rounds.
Factual error: When a Rear Admiral and Captain are walking together, the Captain's epaulets are the wrong way round. A cardinal sin in the Navy. (01:30:00)