Factual error: In the ambush-on-the-prison scene, one of the Boers is equipped with a Lee-Enfield CLLE Charger-Loading Rifle. Although the Boers used many captured Lee-Enfield and Lee-Metford rifles, the CLLE's weren't even developed until the Boer War had ended.
Factual error: The middle third of the film recounts Dr. Thompson meeting Laszlo at the 1972 Superbowl (VI) in Los Angeles, however, in 1972 the game was played in New Orleans.
Factual error: The movie takes place in Connecticut from 1961-1986. All the cars in the movie have license plates on their front bumpers, but Connecticut didn't require front plates until just a few years ago (late 90s-early 00s).
Factual error: When the convictions are overturned, the defendants' solicitor, Gareth Pearce (played by Emma Thompson) is shown arguing their case in court. In England solicitors cannot appear in the higher courts, and in fact a barrister presented the case. However, the film is 'dramatically correct' because it was Gareth Pearce who got them freed, and the barrister in question is far too full of herself without having the honour of being portrayed by Emma T.
Factual error: In both scenes with Brian, Aron's boss, he is wearing a T-shirt that can be identified as being a product of the website www.someecards.com. This website did not launch until 2007, but the movie is set in 2003.
Factual error: At Liberace's funeral, when the priest concludes his prayer, the congregation responds, "And with your Spirit." This response has only been part of the English-language Catholic Mass since 2011. In 1987, the response would have been "And also with you."
Factual error: "Can't take my eyes off you" was released in May 1967. The recording scene of this song shows an Ampeg SVT amplifier in the background. Ampeg SVT was not available before 1969 and the specific model shown on the scene (with white rocker toggle) is a later 1976-1979 model. (01:54:10)
Factual error: The American flag displayed when Churchill arrives at the big house to meet Eisenhower has a modern day configuration of 50 stars, not 48 as it was at the time.
Factual error: If you look at the band playing in the Regal Club the night the boy's mother first visits, the night where they first bring on the donkey, you'll notice that the drum kit used by the drummer in the band is, from what we can see, a 1980's Pearl kit, far too modern. (00:39:00)
Factual error: In the shot of the start of the race at Agua Caliente - some of the horses in the line up are wearing ring head bridles (an Australian stock horse type bridle) - it would be unlikely that these American horses would be racing in such bridles.
Factual error: In the film, Carter leaves the military with service ribbons. In reality, he was discharged after being court-martialed.
Factual error: When Jimmy Hoffa is convicted in 1964, he is driven to the penitentiary in a 1967-68 Chevrolet Suburban.
Factual error: James Graham, 4th Marquess of Montrose, became 1st Duke of Montrose in 1707, six years before the film is set, although the film refers to him throughout as a Marquess.
Factual error: On the way into the health spa, Wilberforce's friend says they should hurry or they'll be late. Wilberforce replies "the waters have been here for a million years - how could we be late?". In the late 1700s, no-one in Europe thought the world was that old.
Factual error: Although quite typical for biopics of this era, certain aspects of Cohan's life are glossed over. The movie shows him in a lifelong marriage to his first love. However, he was in fact married in 1899 to Ethel Levy, and after their divorce in 1907 he married Agnes Mary Nolan, who remained his wife until Cohan's death in 1942.
Factual error: The movie "Santa Fe Trail" (1940) starring Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan and Raymond Massey, is the story of John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859. The president is shown to be Abraham Lincoln, who wasn't inaugurated until February of 1861.
Factual error: In a scene that is twenty-eight minutes into the movie, one of the characters is seen running up to check out a new Cadillac that had been given to him by the owner of Chess Records. A 'super' appears at the bottom of the screen which reads "1952" in order to set the chronological time. Only problem is, the Cadillac is a 1956 model. Any old car buff, particularly one like myself who writes a weekly column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, would know in a heartbeat that this car was four years ahead of the year indicated on the screen. Bruce Kunz, a.k.a. "The FIN MAN"tm www.thefinman.com. (00:28:20 - 00:29:15)
Factual error: In the scene of reaching Machu Pichu, the asthmatic Che Guevara is practically running up (6.000 meters high), and his friend, who doesn't suffer from any respiratory illness, is gasping for air. In other scenes, the asthma plays an important role in the film.
Factual error: Jerry Falwell and Charles Keating never knew each other personally in real life.
Factual error: In the famous tugboat scene, Fannie rides out on a New York Central tugboat painted jade green - a color which wasn't instituted on the boats until the early 1960s. To be accurate, the tugboat would have to have been painted red with a black stack and the New York Central logo.