Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Other mistake: At the two-hour point when Terry-Thomas' plane lands on the moving train a nuclear power plant can be seen in the background several times. (02:04:38 - 02:05:02)

Other mistake: The Japanese plane and the German plane are actually the same aircraft type, a British Design called an "Eardly Billing." The "Japanese" version is re-dressed with canvas partitions between the wings, painted dragons, etc, the "German" has no canvas and German eagles, but they are the same machine.

Other mistake: As the planes go over Dover you get a very nice view of the modern harbour complete with cross Channel ferries and oil tanker.

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Suggested correction: This is not a mistake for two quite plausible reasons. First, the two flyers are the principal rivals in the race and it would be quite in character for one to try to impede the other by substituting a tool inferior to the one requested. Second, the Monkey wrench and the Pipe wrench are similar in appearance and function. The pipe wrench may have worked. Also, Wikipedia says: The term monkey wrench is also sometimes used loosely, usually by non-tradespeople, to refer to the pipe wrench."

Factual error: Terry-Thomas's plane gets stuck between the carriages of a Paris-bound train (in fact filmed on the single-line track between Bedford and Hitchin). Just before the train plus plane goes into a tunnel you can see the cooling towers of Bedford's Goldington Power Station (circa 1960) behind TT's head. (01:58:20)

More mistakes in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Count Emilio Ponticelli: It is a pity that the race will now be won by a Protestant.
Mother Superior: A Protestant? Sisters, don't stand there gazing. This good Catholic needs our help.

More quotes from Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

Trivia: In the beginning of the movie there is a reference to a Frenchman who had crossed the Channel by plane in the previous year (1909). The man meant is Louis Blériot, who flew from Calais to Dover in his famous craft 'Blériot XI' in 37 minutes. Again it was a competition race, for a 1000 Pounds set by the London Daily Mail.

More trivia for Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines

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