Factual error: In the opening, they are playing 'Life in the Fast Lane' by the Eagles, and they do a closeup of the studio turntable playing the last song on an album, but 'Life in the Fast Lane' is the second song on 'Hotel California' - not the last. (00:04:24)
Factual error: It was mentioned the museum has $3 million in gold bars. At 1978 prices, that is about 280 pounds. Gold is fairly heavy and the size of the bar shown in the film looks like 25 pounds. Assuming about 25 pounds per bar, I counted 134 bars or 3,350 pounds or almost $36 million dollars. I guess a big stack of gold bar looks better than a small stack of 11 bars. (00:41:55)
Factual error: When Rita is in the doctor's surgery for her prenatal visit, the chest X-ray in the background is upside down.
Factual error: In the closing scene, E.J. Bellocq pictures Hattie and Violet with a Kodak Portrait Brownie No. 2. The Kodak Portrait Brownie No. 2 was not introduced until 1929, a dozen years after the movie takes place.
Factual error: In the 1953 sequence when the headmaster is driving Fiona and Paul home, the yellow car parked in the road is a Vauxhall Viva HC, which didn't start production until 1970.
Factual error: When the bad guys collect the $100 million in cash from the vault, it's been laid out in just 2 suitcases. According to US government specifications, that much cash (it is mentioned in the movie that it is in $100 bills) would be a single pile nearly 50 feet high (about 10 times what is shown) and 1,000kg - a full ton of weight.
Factual error: During the fire scene at night, the water truck has "Vasser" printed on the side. Water in German is spelled "Wasser."