Andrew Upton

12th Feb 2013

First Strike (1996)

Continuity mistake: In the Chinese parade towards the end of the film, at one point an enemy heavies attempt to capture Annie is blocked by Jackie on his stilts. In one shot the heavy is right up against the stilts, but as soon as the close-up cuts to a long shot he is now about 6-feet away from the stilts, which is the perfect distance for Jackie to kick him with a stilt.

Andrew Upton

9th Nov 2012

Skyfall (2012)

Skyfall mistake picture

Continuity mistake: As Bond chases Patrice over the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul at the start of the film, in the close ups of Daniel Craig his tie can be seen noticeably flapping over his shoulder (as you would expect). But in the long shots with the stuntman it doesn't move about at all, presumably having been fixed in place for safety. (00:04:40)

Andrew Upton

Continuity mistake: When Wonka's boat is about to depart, two shots are cut together, but the sound recorded of the second is used over both. This results in a clear view of the Oompa Loompa steering the boat with the boat's bell (and the rope to ring it) not being rung by anyone whilst you can hear it ringing - then the shot suddenly changes, and the Oompa Loompa is obviously ringing it in time to the sound.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: In the last British battle at Omdurman near the end of the film, the British bugler is shown wearing a Pattern 1903 bandolier - not made until at least 5 years after the film is set.

Andrew Upton

27th Jun 2011

The Four Feathers (1939)

Factual error: Towards the beginning of the film, when Kitchener is shown inspecting Harry's old regiment, one of the African or Egyptian troops is shown to be wearing the Pattern 1914 Infantry Equipment, not made until 1914 at the earliest. Additionally, it has the 1918 modification to have two closing straps, so is over 20 years too late for the 1894 date at that point.

Andrew Upton

7th Apr 2011

Dunkirk (1958)

Revealing mistake: When Corporal Bin's group of men eventually arrive at Dunkirk, they speak to a soldier adding sandbags to a Vicker's gun position. Here (and later on in the film when it is shown firing) it has a blank-firing adaptor prominently fitted to the front. Additionally the belt of ammunition shown going through it is filled with blanks - no bullets project outside the other side to that of the actual cartridge cases.

Andrew Upton

5th Apr 2011

Dunkirk (1958)

Factual error: The Sergeant-Major of the artillery section Corporal Bins and his men are briefly attached to has two of his medal ribbons round the wrong way. He has up the Victory and British War Medal ribbons, when they should be worn BWM and then VM. A mistake an experienced senior NCO would not make.

Andrew Upton

21st Mar 2011

Sea of Sand (1958)

Revealing mistake: Whenever our heroes are shown firing the Vickers guns on or off the vehicles, they are very obviously fitted with blank-fire adapters to the front. The belts of ammunition for them throughout the film are also blanks - the cases are visible, but the bullets that should project out the other side of the belt are not present.

Andrew Upton

Revealing mistake: Look at the table when the fakir's "severed" head is revealed during dinner at the end. It noticeably wobbles and moves about when he talks, showing his body is hidden underneath.

Andrew Upton

Other mistake: The fight at the end is unintentionally quite funny for the lack of enthusiasm shown by the extras playing the Burpers. They engage the British soldiers with some half-hearted fighting that's little more than jostling, and when they disengage the fight supposedly in fear and panic at seeing the "Men in Skirts" reveal themselves, most of them are quite slow and calm as they try and get through the narrow gate to escape.

Andrew Upton

Continuity mistake: Brother Belcher is shown ducking under the water line in the fountain when he and the others are revealed as the fake chiefs. When the shot cuts to the side, he is above the water line again but now completely wet. Then the shot cuts to the front again and he is shown coming up from below the waterline.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: After finding the soldiers slaughtered at the Khyber Pass, Sergeant Major Mcnutt and Private Widdle try to see off the Burpers with a "Maxim". The Maxims in use at this time look nothing like the gun they use, which appears to be loosely based on a Gatling gun. Additionally, it's mounted on a MkIV tripod, not introduced to the British Army until 1906, 11 years after the film is set.

Andrew Upton

13th Jun 2010

The Illusionist (2006)

Other mistake: Watch the Crown Princes body after he's shot himself in the head at the end of the film. As Inspector Uhl tells the men who broke in what happened, the Crown Prince is still breathing very heavily and noticeably.

Andrew Upton

Revealing mistake: Whilst imprisoned by the Burpers, Brother Belcher calls to one of the guards. The guard's supposed to have many missing teeth, but they have just been very obviously blacked to simulate this (a very common film or theatre trick, but usually not this obvious).

Andrew Upton

Factual error: The revolvers carried and used by Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond, Captain Keene and Sergeant Major Mcnutt throughout the film (and particularly at the end fight) are Webley MkVI's, not introduced into the British Army until 1915, 20 years after the film is set. Additionally, the holsters Keene and Mcnutt carry them in are webbing holsters, not introduced until well after WW1 (1914-1918).

Andrew Upton

Continuity mistake: As the fake chiefs escape over a wall in the palace, the door they locked is shown being battered down by Burpers. From the inside shot it takes noticeable damage, and begins to come away from the wall on the hinged side. However, when the fakir opens it from the other side everything is now fixed, and it opens just fine, no signs of damage.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: Just before the planes start to cross the channel, we have a scene of a reporter with some British soldiers. They wear the cap and collar badges of the Royal Corps of Signals, which wasn't formed until 1920 - 10 years after the film is set.

Andrew Upton

Factual error: One of the questions Jamal has to answer is "Who invented the revolver?" to which the answer is given as Samuel Colt. Colt didn't invent the revolver, or even claim to invent it - he merely took a form which had existed for many years and substantially improved it. For example, Elisha H Collier patented a flintlock revolver in 1818 when Colt was only 4 years old which was produced in numbers for the British forces in India. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisha_Collier.

Andrew Upton

4th Nov 2009

Oliver (1968)

Deliberate mistake: During "Consider Yourself", watch the meat-cutters - the cleavers they use never cut into the meat, just bounce off harmlessly. Obviously too dangerous to try and use real ones in such a crowded environment.

Andrew Upton

Other mistake: At the very beginning of the film, we see Christie commit a murder at the end of the Second World War whilst wearing the uniform of a Special Constable. Christie served during the First World War, and he wears the ribbons of the 1914 or 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal on his tunic. Unfortunately, whoever put them on put the bar upside down - they read from left to right VM, BWM, Star.

Andrew Upton

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