Factual error: The movie is supposed to take place over the course of a single summer. In one section of the film, Bobby is reading a story about VP Nixon's recent Presidential nomination, which took place in 1960. Later, he is reading a story of Maury Wills base stealing record, which occurred in 1962. (00:25:00)
Audio problem: When Anthony Hopkins is talking to the boy, the boy is sitting in front of a mirror. Anthony starts talking to him, and the camera angle moves to behind Anthony. You can hear Anthony talking, but his lips aren't in sync to the reflection in the mirror.
Factual error: At the end of the movie Bobbie is riding off on his Schwinn Phantom. The film has been reversed, as it shows the kick stand of the bike on the right side of the bicycle. The kickstand on a Phantom, as all other bikes, is on the left. (01:31:30)
Continuity mistake: When Bobby is sitting in the kitchen listening to his mom talk about "what his dad left them with" his arms are down on the table. In the next shot, his arms are instantly in front of him holding his new library card. (00:08:15)
Continuity mistake: In the scene when Ted fixes Carol's arm there is a cone-shaped lamp behind Bobby. In the next shot the lamp is gone. (01:11:55)
Continuity mistake: When Bobby comes to say good-bye to Carol her silhouette is seen through a bedsheet. She takes a piece of cloth from the basket, lifts it a little but drops her arms when Bobby comes closer. In the next, close-up shot she is looking at Bobby with her empty hands up in the air. Besides, the clotheslines look way too high for her. (01:26:15)
Continuity mistake: In the rape scene you see in the mirror Bobby's mother being thrown on the bed twice, the second time not as far as the first time. (01:08:00)
Continuity mistake: After Carol gets beaten up she sits with her back against a trunk. In different shots her hair and ribbons are arranged differently. (01:08:45)
Continuity mistake: When Bobby is begging his mother to let him work for Ted Brautigan, she says yes and fully ties the apron around her waist. However in the next shot, she is shown just putting the apron around her waist and tying it again. (00:21:50)
Continuity mistake: After Carol gets beaten up Bobby carries her back home. Her shirt is pulled out of her skirt and you see her skin. Later, when Ted fixes her arm she is wearing an undershirt fully tucked in. (01:13:15)
Continuity mistake: When Carol gets beaten up at the river, her book falls into the water and closes. A few seconds later it is shown floating open. (01:08:35)
Continuity mistake: When Ted is offering Bobby the job, he throws the newspaper toward Bobby. Bobby takes his hand partially off the root beer he's holding and in the next shot, his hand is instantly holding the root beer.
Continuity mistake: In the beginning of the movie, Bobby, Carol and Sully are running through the baseball field towards the lake. Carol has nothing in her hands however, in the next scene, Carol has a white bagged lunch in her hand. How did it get there? (00:09:45)
Continuity mistake: When Ted and Bobby leave the pool hall, they run through the rain to a taxi sitting in the street. Despite the fact that the rain is pelting down, the windows of the taxi are open. If you slow down at this point, you can also see that the rain is only falling in front of the camera; it isn't hitting the taxi or the actors.
Continuity mistake: When the bullies are bothering Bobby and Carol, keep your eyes on Carol's hair clip. It changes places in every shot. (00:51:30)
Continuity mistake: In the first scene where Bobby is reading the newspaper to Anthony Hopkins, the paper is completely open then when the angle changes the paper is tucked under. Then changes back to the angle where the paper is completely open. (00:23:30)
