Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I. (1980)

41 mistakes in China Doll

(12 votes)

China Doll - S1-E3

Visible crew/equipment: After Magnum reads the note he kneels down in front of Han to console him, and as the next long shot zooms out in front of the beautiful scarlet macaw parrot, a piece of lighting equipment becomes visible in the background, at the left side of the screen. (00:34:20)

Super Grover

China Doll - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: During the drive to Uncle Han, when Magnum asks about the vase's worth there's something with duct tape on the Ferrari door near Magnum's left shoulder, where the camera is located at this particular angle. (00:27:05)

Super Grover

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: When Magnum and TC are in the chopper headed to Kauai with the passengers in the back, Magnum's microphone is attached to the helmet on his left side, but in a couple of closeups from behind Magnum his mic is attached to the right side (not flipped shots). (00:07:25)

Super Grover

China Doll - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: When Higgins tells Magnum that he has to get into the safe first, Tom Selleck turns around and does a cheeky eyebrow-wiggle thing so well executed that will stay as the end shot for the opening of the whole series. A minute later, Higgins commands the lads to kill (!), and the turn and waggle are shown back in an obvious mirror shot. (00:47:45 - 00:48:40)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: Choi hangs up and leaves Magnum to his search for Mai Ling. First shot of Magnum running, and he's running with in the background, behind him, a boat with a multicolored striped sail. His inner voice in the next, wider, shot says "I had to find her. Fast." just before he sprints past...the rope that is keeping anchored the boat from before, just now entering the frame. (00:36:50)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: At Robin's Nest, Magnum asks "Mai Ling, how are you with animals?" Look at the estate behind him; there's a portion of the door visible by Tom Selleck's head. Cut to her response, and then back on Selleck; the car is switched off, but they moved, as the door is visible in full, not at an angle. There's also some stain on the car glass, probably from one of the lads' mouths. After another cut to Susie Elene, the original view with the door at an angle is back. (00:15:40)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: In one of the shots of the Ferrari driving away from the club and towards Uncle Han's residence, Mai Ling says "Some people have already been killed." This shot is a mirrored one; Magnum's head is on the passenger side and the license plate is backwards. (00:27:05)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: When Magnum drives away from the King Kamehameha club, in the shot where he drives off turning right and into the main road, a stunt double pudgier than Selleck is used instead. (00:27:00)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Plot hole: Choi is a single guy with no help from anyone else no superpowers (just a rather deadly fist), always shown on foot and yet he is able to follow Magnum always. He has to ask for directions at the beginning of the episode (with the store being about 3 doors away) so he's not omniscient, but somehow he is able to show up wherever Magnum goes, including where he just drove his super fast Ferrari, or when he's getting free helicopter rides.No explanation is attempted or hinted.

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Other mistake: Mai Ling is left in the sun for 8 hours at least, according to Magnum. She is drugged and in danger of dying. Yet her skin has no sign of any stress. They take time to show, of course, but when they meet with Higgins at the end of the episode (which is implied not being long after, with Higgins fixing the vase) she does not have anything unusual either (like a goofy sunglasses tanline).

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: Magnum finds Mai Ling on the beach. He's wearing his Detroit Tigers hat as he kneels by her. Then it cuts to a close-up when he calls her name; no hat. Next shot and to shield Mai from the sun, he removes the hat he didn't have anymore. (00:38:55)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: Rick is ticked off and tells TC he was not gonna stick around to play ring-around-the-rosie. Higgins at the edge of the frame moves his hand, but it's back in its original position in the next shot. (00:40:40)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Revealing mistake: Magnum and TC are headed back to Kauai. Like earlier in the episode, the helicopter is piloted by someone wearing camel pants and not the blue jeans TC is wearing, but in addition to that, the passenger seat is empty, Magnum is nowhere to be seen. (00:42:40 - 00:43:20)

Sammo

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: In the scene inside Higgins' study where he examines the shattered vase, Rick's gold chain is over his tank top in the first shot, under it in the following, and it keeps going on and off depending on the camera angle. (00:40:30)

Sammo

Magnum, P.I. mistake picture

China Doll - S1-E3

Continuity mistake: When Choi kills the captain backhanding him in the temple, the crayon doodle on his palm is on the left. Later in the episode (when he kills the cousinuncle, when he is on the pedicab with Rick), the tattoo is on his right. (00:05:00 - 00:15:00)

Sammo

Of Sound Mind - S3-E12

Higgins: How fiendishly deceptive of you, Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent. To my great surprise, I see the sounds are emanating from what I thought was a harmless musical instrument.
Magnum: Cute Higgins, real cute.
Higgins: Why Magnum? Why do this terrible thing?
Magnum: Higgins, I'll have you know I used to be very good. I was the second best sax player in my High School band!
Higgins: Well, how many sax players were there?!
Magnum: ...Anyway. I just saw this in a pawn shop window and thought I'd like to try and get my chops back.
Higgins: May I suggest that your "chops" are irretrievable.
Magnum: Higgins, did you come here just to abuse me!?
(00:05:25)

Sammo

More quotes from Magnum, P.I.
More trivia for Magnum, P.I.

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.