Running on Empty

Running on Empty (1988)

10 mistakes

(1 vote)

Continuity mistake: Michael Manfield (Danny Pope) walked to the Phillips' house for the in-house music presentations, but on his way home when he was sitting by the lake, his bicycle was on the ground. There was no indication that he had gone home first - he was throwing away the hat he took from Lorna's room, and he was still wearing a tie. (00:38:51 - 00:42:52)

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Continuity mistake: In the restaurant scene where Annie meets her father, what is to her father's left varies with the camera's focus. Views facing Annie show a piece of panelling or plywood to her father's left but views facing her father show a large vase of flowers. (01:34:45)

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Factual error: The timeline is flawed. Baseball season typically runs Mar/Apr through Sept/Oct - Michael was on teams in FL then NJ. The Spartanburg newspaper article Harry was reading the morning after the Popes fled FL was dated Mar 19, 1987 - Spring. Travelling to NJ as well as during the Popes' stay there, all tree leaves were green - Summer foliage. After asking Michael where he was applying to college, Lorna told him he'd have to apply next term - meaning January. So, was it Spring, Summer, or Fall?

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Revealing mistake: The palm trees next to the building Arthur came out were not real trees. One is flush against the front wall of the building and another is in a nearby corner. The palm tree in front looked completely flat - like a large piece of cardboard or maybe painted on the wall. Palm trees should be at least 30' away from a structure as well as outdoor pipes, buried lines, etc. They grow a big central root below the trunk and MANY thin roots running horizontal close to the surface - some may be exposed. (00:05:51)

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Other mistake: When Danny fled from the FBI cars and went to his house to get Harry, the back door was ajar and the dog (Jomo?) was near the steps. There apparently was a dog/pet door near the bottom of the door, leaving no reason for the door to be ajar in the generally hot Florida temperatures. Right before the dog goes into the house with Danny's shoe, there is a flash of a hand that quickly went behind the door, but someone was there. (00:04:37)

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Other mistake: When Danny fled from the FBI cars and went to his house to get Harry, the back door was ajar and the dog (Jomo?) was near the steps. There apparently was a dog/pet door near the bottom of the door, leaving no reason for the door to be ajar in the generally hot Florida temperatures. Right before the dog goes into the house with Danny's shoe, there is a flash of a hand that quickly went behind the door, but someone was there. (00:04:37)

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Factual error: In cooking class, the teacher said "two stalks of celery" and Michael handed Lorna one stalk, which she started to separate. One "stalk" is actually the entire bunch (or head), which is made up of 8-10+ "ribs" connected at the bottom. Two ribs will equal about one chopped cup - about right for the tuna walnut casserole made with one can of tuna. Americans typically use the word "stalk" interchangeably with "rib", calling a single rib/ stick/ branch a stalk, but the stalk is the entire bunch. (00:37:02)

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Character mistake: Mr. Phillips is supposed to be a sophisticated and proper music teacher, but his behavior during Michael's first class seemed out of character. He didn't say anything when two students got up and danced in the front of the classroom. He told Michael that "everybody who takes music is required to play in the orchestra", but after hearing Michael play piano, Mr. Phillips (unauthorized) told him he didn't have to play in the orchestra." Also, he told Michael, "get out of here" - not professional. (00:21:43 - 00:26:42)

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Other mistake: Mr. Phillips told Michael (Danny) that he'd like to hear him play on his "Steinway at home", but didn't say when or give Michael his address, but Michael was able to ride his bike to the Phillips' house. Michael was in this new school (and State) for only one day, so it seems unlikely that he'd know where Mr. Phillips lived. (00:26:33)

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Character mistake: Mr. Phillips told Michael (Danny) that he'd like him to apply for "early admission" to Julliard. Michael was a 17-year-old high school senior and had not yet auditioned for Julliard - the audition is to occur when a student his age is "entering 12th grade in the Fall of the academic year for which he is applying." It was too late to submit an application and an "early admission" was not possible at this point. (01:08:42)

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Michael: They need me.
Lorna: I need you.

More quotes from Running on Empty

Trivia: Martha and River were already "girlfriend/ boyfriend" since co-starring in "Mosquito Coast" (1986). After "Running On Empty" (1988), their relationship ended in 1989 because Martha did not like River's use of drugs.

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More trivia for Running on Empty

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