Factual error: Near the start, the letter received from Brazil has a stamp with Brazil written with a Z, but stamps spell it Brasil, with an S. (00:08:35)
Factual error: Hornblower's plan is to sail Le Reve south from Gibraltar to give him ample sea room before he heads for England. Generally, the prevailing wind through the Straits is westerly, unless there is a Levanter, yet Le Reve is shown on a port tack when it should be on a broad reach. The fog that comes up would not exist in a gale-force Levanter.
Factual error: While Nate and his business associates are driving around in downtown Baltimore, the Key Bridge (which spans Baltimore harbor) is visible in the background. The movie was set in 1954; the Key Bridge was built in 1972, 18 years later. (01:33:55)
Factual error: The Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol" was first published in 1843; and, although Dickens never mentioned the specific year in which this story is set, it is fairly obvious that he was inspired by the severe winter of 1840, when Great Britain saw sleet, ice, snow and below-average temperatures from early December through February. This made-for-television Hallmark Entertainment production (starring Patrick Stewart) is a faithful interpretation of the Dickens novel, depicting rather severe weather for Great Britain in December, with accumulated snow on rooftops and in the streets. However, despite the snow and bitter cold that is mentioned repeatedly throughout the movie, nobody's breath condensation is ever visible when speaking, laughing, singing or shouting outdoors. This is no doubt due to the fact that the movie was produced during the spring and summer of 1999.