Patriot Games

Factual error: Just before Sean Miller shoots the bookseller he takes the safety catch off the Ak-47. However, he moves the catch two clicks down and then fires the weapon on automatic. This is incorrect. For most modern weapons the safety catch feature goes safe-semi-auto, however the AK safety catch goes safe-auto-semi.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: I watched this scene twice to verify - there is only one click.

Factual error: Lymington does not contain a rising bridge, only a small ferry to the Isle of Wight. It is only a small town, and not the built up area as presented in the film (the scene was filmed at Canary Wharf in London). Interestingly, the original novel is much more accurate with Clancy explaining in precise detail the route including highway numbers and towns the van travels through to reach Lymington, and the crossing is correctly undertaken on a ferry, not a rising bridge as depicted in the film.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: The use of stock footage in movies is a common practice. More context would be needed to explain why this is a mistake.

More mistakes in Patriot Games

Sean Miller: How's the family, Ryan? Nearly lost 'em, didn't you? It's easy to get at them. You should look after your family better, you know? Are you there?
Jack Ryan: Yeah.
Sean Miller: I understand your little girl's feeling better, eh? Lost her spleen though, eh? Pity, that. Make it a mighty tough on her to fight off infection, eh Jacky?
Jack Ryan: You sick son of a bitch.

More quotes from Patriot Games

Trivia: As Harrison Ford leaves the naval academy he hesitates and stares across at his would-be assassin, who is hanging around suspiciously on the opposite side of the street. The street name sign under which the man is standing reads 'Hanover Street'. Hanover Street was the first film in which Harrison Ford played the leading role.

More trivia for Patriot Games

Question: Near the end, during the dinner party at the Ryan house, how did Jack figure out that Lord Holmes' assistant, Watkins, was the IRA informant? He seemed to put it together very suddenly.

raywest

Answer: Because, while everyone was scared and running for safety, he was the only one cool and calm. Plus, everyone was together, he was the only one alone and appeared out of nowhere.

Answer: The guests seemed fine, but Jack realised the power was intentionally cut since the boathouse light was working. Maybe he saw the external powerlines were still intact and thus deduced the power was shut down from inside the house. Going toward the basement, he sees Watkins coming from the direction of the basement shortly after the power went out and this made Watkins the prime suspect of the power outage. Ryan may have also known about the existence of an informant in the Royal entourage due to his extensive study of the prior attack situation. Finally, it may have been inappropriate for Watkins to have a gun since he was not a bodyguard. Seeing the blood, the dead guard and the power switch off confirmed Jack's suspicions which led him to shoot Watkins to get more info.

More questions & answers from Patriot Games

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.