Revealing mistake: After Lansbury makes her clothes start to move, her nightgown attacks someone and you can notice the strings that make the gown move.
Revealing mistake: When Ms Price plummets on her broom, a wire attached to her waist is visible.
Revealing mistake: Toward the end of the movie Miss Price has done the 5 word spell to animate the objects. When the sword "knocks on the Miss Price's door", the strings are visible on the front of the sword.
Revealing mistake: At Naboomboo, when the bear grabs Mr Brown and takes him to the cartoon beach, Mr Brown casts no shadow on the sand.
Revealing mistake: When the armored army attacks the Germans, one of them falls on the floor and rolls away. Note the grass and you'll see that part he falls on has a darker color, revealing there was a safety mat underneath. (01:51:48)
Revealing mistake: When the cartoon lion introduces Mr. Brown as the referee, he starts playing with the football and suddenly the ball and his hand become transparent.
Revealing mistake: When the white gown enters Ms. Price's house, before it starts dancing with Prof. Brown, a string holding it is visible.
Revealing mistake: When Ms. Price starts to make the shoes move, the strings attached are visible.
Revealing mistake: The first view of Portobello Road is a painting because the smoke from the chimneys is motionless.
Revealing mistake: When Ms. Price is trying to fly on her broom, a wire holding it is visible.
Revealing mistake: When the ghost army starts to move, the wires holding the drum sticks are visible.
Answer: Don't know what it was like in the forties, but we were there in 2010. Wonderful place to visit. So animated. Not only were their vendors, but there were Street entertainers as well. What I found amusing was before you get to the part of Portobello Road where there were these vendors, you had to go past the stately homes with gated grounds. Expensive cars with pull into the drives. Wouldn't happen here in the United States.