Revealing mistake: During the barn raise you see the some men using ridiculously small nails to connect huge beams. (01:20:20)
Continuity mistake: At the end of the film, during the wordless good-bye scene between Kelly McGillis and Harrison Ford, she stands at the door wearing her Amish bonnet. The straps hang untied in front of her shoulders, but after a cut to Ford, the bonnet straps are behind her shoulders. (01:42:30)
Continuity mistake: When John says good-bye to Samuel you see them from across a brook, sitting on the bank. In the next shot they are shown from behind and the brook is gone. To top it off, John even walks off in the direction where the brook was before. (01:41:35)
Continuity mistake: When the train overtakes the cart you see in alternating shots either the cart on the road with clear field in between or, in an angle showing Rachel's and Samuel's faces, a built-up area with station and factory looking buildings. (00:08:50)
Continuity mistake: When Samuel looks at the handgun in the drawer, the gun is vertical in closeup, but the grip is tilted left when Samuel reaches for it. (00:46:20)
Continuity mistake: When the three Philadelphia cops walk toward the house it is dusk; when a few seconds later McFee breaks down the door you can see the background and now it is full day with bright sunshine. (01:32:45)