Continuity mistake: Jack Aubrey's hair changes in consecutive shots throughout the film. For example, when Stephen tells Jack, "Let me take a look at that brow of yours," his hair differs in the following close-up. (00:16:40)
Continuity mistake: In the last shot we see the Surprise make a sharp 90 degrees turn to follow l'Acheron to Valparaiso. It seems that the wind changes 90 degrees in the same instant, because it is not necessary to trim the sails, and the pennant keeps flying in the same direction relative to the ship. (02:08:05)
Continuity mistake: When Jack is peering through the magnifying glass at the chart, we see 'Hidden Reef' and 'Dangerous Shoals', but in the previous shot those two things are shown way to the left of where he is looking. (00:18:05)
Continuity mistake: In the close-up of the deceased, Mr. Allen lies right beside Peter and Blakeney's knees are visible above Peter's head, while he mourns over Peter. However, in the wide shot as Blakeney still stares at Peter, Peter and Mr. Allen are now much farther apart as Davies sits between the two. Peter and the hammock's position differ in his next close-up as well. (01:59:30)
Continuity mistake: The blood stains on the front of Jack's shirt change drastically in the close-up, when he is stabbed, as compared to the previous and following shots. (01:57:15)
Continuity mistake: During Blakeney's amputation, the cloth roll in his mouth changes position in consecutive shots. (00:22:15)
Continuity mistake: When Stephen comes on deck during the rounding of Cape Horn, Jack yells to him from the quarterdeck. Jack has his boat cloak on. He does not put on his boat cloak for several shots later, just after he tells Bonden to steer SSW. (00:48:30)
Continuity mistake: The order is given to closereef the topsail. But moments earlier, you see seaman doing just that, working on the last reef.
Revealing mistake: After the Captain cuts loose the man who fell overboard in the storm, there is a scene where the men sit around the big table and sing a song. During the song, the camera pans in a sweeping shot around the table. Watch closely as it comes around to the near side of the table, and you'll see the camera's view quickly jolt, as if it lightly smacked against something by accident during the filming.
Continuity mistake: When Captain Aubrey's head is bleeding after being hit during the first battle with the Acheron, we see the wound just above his eye. However, when we see him next, the wound is farther down his hairline. (00:11:50)
Factual error: When performing the burials at sea after the final fight with the Acheron, the body on the plank is covered with the wrong ensign. The one shown is not the Union Jack created after the 1800 Act of Union. The correct ensign would be the flag of Great Britain, which does not have the saltire of St. Patrick (the diagonal red "X").
Suggested correction: The story takes place in 1805; the Union Jack is therefore absolutely correct.
