Mr. Holland's Opus

Factual error: Mr. Holland starts teaching at JFK in fall of 1964 (q.e.d by the fact that the first graduating class seen is class of 1965). However, when Holland first meets the assistant principal parking his Corvair, the latter asks him if he's read Ralph Nader's book (Unsafe at Any Speed), which was not published until November of 1965.

Revealing mistake: Anytime the camera is on Richard Dreyfuss' hands while he's playing the piano, it is clear that he is not actually playing; his hands are frequently in the wrong part of the keyboard for the sound being produced. At other times, when his hands are moving down the keyboard, the pitch we hear is going up, or vice-versa.

More mistakes in Mr. Holland's Opus

Vice Principal Wolters: I care about these kids just as much as you do. And if I'm forced to choose between Mozart and reading and writing and long division, I choose long division.
Glenn Holland: Well, I guess you can cut the arts as much as you want, Gene. Sooner or later, these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about.

More quotes from Mr. Holland's Opus

Trivia: All the American Sign Language used in the movie is accurate. When Iris tells Cole to open the window, Cole's response is not translated and she says "don't bust my butt." What he signed was, "Tell him to open the window himself."

More trivia for Mr. Holland's Opus

Question: Sometime during the film the show the passing of several years by showing images of what happened during these years. I think it is at the time of the Vietnam War. A song is played in the background. Does anybody know what the name of that song is and whom by?

Answer: Its "Imagine" by John Lennon.

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