Continuity mistake: When Capt. Queeg has his first meeting with his officers a message comes in. When Queeg asks the messenger for his name and rank his right arm is on or under the table in alternating shots. (00:30:10)
Continuity mistake: In the scene at Yosemite where Keith is waiting for May to have breakfast there is a big silver pot on the table. After May arrives the pot isn't there anymore. (00:43:45)
Continuity mistake: When Queeg orders a safety drill on the ship there are two seamen without a helmet. One helmet is being handed through to them, but in the next shot both men are wearing helmets. That Queeg, who should have seen both, wants to punish only one makes this slip complete. (01:01:25)
Continuity mistake: In the scene where the Caine is in a storm there is no number '18' on the side of the bow. In other shots of the real Caine there is a very distinctive No. 18 painted in white on both sides of the bow. (01:16:05 - 01:20:20)
Factual error: In the shot where the three officers ride the aircraft elevator from the hangar deck to the flight deck after arriving aboard the admiral's carrier, you can briefly see some of the aircraft parked on the hangar deck, and they are jet aircraft. The aircraft have pointed noses, no propellers, and the fuselage shape and markings are consistent with first generation Navy carrier jets. These types were not in service until the mid-50s (See "Bridges of Toko-Ri").
Factual error: The movie takes place during WW-II. In the scene where Maryk, Keefer and Keith go to visit the admiral on the aircraft carrier, the ship has the hull number of "33". The aircraft carrier USS Kearsarge CV-33 was not commissioned until 1946, after WW-II was already over.
Continuity mistake: Following being dragged in the ocean attempting to secure a tow-line, Van Johnson immediately appears on deck, soaking wet, naturally, except for the back of his left shirt sleeve, which is amazingly dry.
Continuity mistake: The court martial ends with Willie still an Ensign, but when he reports aboard Commander De Vriess' destroyer, his next assignment, he is a full Lieutenant (two full stripes).
Suggested correction: Why is this a mistake? He could easily have been promoted between the court martial and his new assignment.
Suggested correction: Willie was not a full lieutenant. He had a half stripe added. He was a lieutenant junior grade.
Factual error: In the movie's latter part during the trial, when Van Johnson finished testifying he returned to the defense table, and on the wall behind him was a calendar showing all the months of the year. It showed January 1st as a Thursday. According to the movie the trial took place in 1944. In 1944 January 1 was actually on a Saturday, not a Thursday. The actual year on the calendar in the film was 1953 - they clearly used a calendar current for when the movie was filmed.
