Life on Mars

Life on Mars (2006)

3 factual errors in show generally - chronological order

(5 votes)

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Factual error: In the penultimate episode of series 2, the date is given as July 1973, but in an earlier episode when the police were raiding the drug dealer's house, Cozy Powell's record "Dance with the Devil" can be heard. This was a Christmas time hit in 1973.

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Factual error: Stopford House in Stockport is used for the exterior shots of the police station. It was constructed in 1975 and wouldn't have existed in 1973 when the show is set.

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Factual error: Throughout the show in many street scenes and visible on some houses are satellite dishes. These were not available in 1973, only terrestrial TV through regular aerials. The first commercial satellite service In the UK was launched in 1989 by SKY.

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Other mistake: The registration number of the Ford Zephyr police car is RVP154G but the security etching on the window reads EKM414C.

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Trivia: Continual references are made to The Wizard of Oz. In Episode 1 of season 1, Tyler leaves the station with the intention of walking back to reality. He says to Cartwright that he is going to 'follow the yellow brick road'. In episode two, after the principal drama has resolved Tyler suggests to Hunt that his 'guv' transfer him back to the division he came from. Hunt obliges by picking up his phone and saying that the Wizard of Oz will sort it out 'because of the wonderful things he does'. Throughout the series Hunt insultingly refers to Tyler as 'Dorothy'. And in the final episode, the song 'Over The Rainbow' can be heard in the soundtrack. Furthermore, the character Frank Morgan has the same name as the actor who portrayed the Wizard of Oz, an acknowledged "humbug", in the 1939 film.

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Question: When Sam reads someone their rights why does someone else tell him he's saying it wrong? This happens few times in different episodes.

strikeand

Chosen answer: Sam is using the modern wording of the right-to-silence caution prescribed by legislation such as the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. In the 1970s, the wording would have been different, if it was used at all.

Sierra1

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