Factual error: As Ray is driving around the country selling his machines, we see town mileage signs that are green with white lettering. In the early 50s they were white with black lettering.
Factual error: In 1954, when Ray follows the map to San Bernardino, he passes by Lake Havasu, noted as a large city. It wasn't even incorporated until the '60s.
Factual error: When Ray is looking at the map of Arizona to travel to Phoenix to see the restaurant with the "golden arches", it shows Sun City. Sun City wasn't created as a community until the early 60's.
Factual error: In a scene in Illinois, when the camera is panning on churches and civic buildings, a 50-star U.S. flag is shown flying above one building. The U.S. flag had 48 stars at the time.
Factual error: The map shown towards the beginning of the movie (1957) shows the city of Santa Clarita, which didn't exist until 1987.
Factual error: Numerous outdoor scenes in San Bernardino taking place during the 1950's depict a railroad crossing with automatic crossing gates, which were patented in 1966.
Factual error: The scene where Ray Kroc is looking at a map to drive out to San Bernardino, CA to visit the McDonald brothers shows the city of Santa Clarita, CA. There was no such city in the 1950's, as Santa Clarita was not founded until 1987. It also shows Moreno Valley as a major city next to Riverside. Moreno Valley did not exist as a city until 1984. Also, Irvine is shown as a major city, and it existed only as a ranch at the time of Kroc's trip to San Bernardino.
Factual error: While Ray is driving southbound to Phoenix, the highway is marked "U.S. route 17." The actual US 17 is a north-south highway running from Virginia to Florida. There is an interstate 17 which runs to Phoenix, but it did not exist at the time either.
Factual error: While Ray Kroc is sitting outside McDonald's to eat his meal, a family sits down next to him to eat their meal. The woman's drink has a plastic straw, which did not exist until the 60s. (00:12:51)
Answer: 1. Yes, he pretty much cheated them out of their restaurant, royalties, intellectual property, etc. 2. Ray elaborates on this towards the end of the film when is on the phone with them. He's generated so much revenue from his real estate venture that he can afford to tie them up in court for years and drown them in legal fees if they decided to sue him for breach of contract. This is why they decide to surrender the company and everything that came with it in exchange for $1 million each and 1% perpetuity, the latter of which they never received.
Phaneron ★