Factual error: The opening scene shows Spencer Tracy on a crack streamliner in the desert east of Los Angeles, featuring red and orange coaches. Such equipment was used by the railroad on only two trains, neither of which crossed the desert east of Los Angeles, and both of which had matching red and orange locomotives. In the film the train is pulled by a dark gray locomotive normally used only to haul freight, and in a close-up shot the number in the locomotive is preceded by an X, which in the language of railroading refers to an extra train.
Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)
1 factual error - chronological order
Directed by: John Sturges
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Anne Francis, Dean Jagger
Revealing mistake: Whilst Spencer Tracy is driving the Jeep through the desert at high speed, during one of the long shots the rough terrain causes the vehicle to bounce violently; if you look carefully you can just make out the stunt-driver's "missing" arm coming out from beneath his jacket to help wrestle with the steering wheel.
Doc T.R. Velie Jr.: Why did you come here, Mr. Macreedy?
John J. Macreedy: Did Komoko have any other family besides his son Joe?
Doc T.R. Velie Jr.: Son? Nobody around here ever knew he had a son.
John J. Macreedy: Yes, he had a son. He's dead too. He's buried in Italy... Why, this Komoko boy died trying to save my life. They gave him a medal. I came here to give it to his old man. I figured the least I could do was give him one day out of my life.
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