The Sons of Katie Elder

Revealing mistake: During John Elder's fight in Hasting's gun store, he ducks behind a counter, and as he pokes out his head, Hastings fires at him. On the counter, the "bullet hole" - containing the powder charge for imitating a bullet impact - is already visible before Hastings fires his gun.

Revealing mistake: When John Elder is at his parent's grave site and the sheriff comes up behind him, John Wayne has two guns to make it appear that he draws very fast. Both guns, the one in his hand and the one in his holster are briefly visible as he turns to aim the gun at the sheriff. Viewed on VHS.

Factual error: In the final gunfight in Hasting's store, John Elder fires his six-shooting Colt to a total of thirteen or fourteen times, without requiring - or doing any - reloading whatsoever.

More mistakes in The Sons of Katie Elder

Tom Elder: Mr. Hastings, you know everybody around here: Can you tell us who is the dirty stinkin' lowdown rat that shot our pa?

More quotes from The Sons of Katie Elder

Trivia: This movie marked the return of John Wayne to work after having a cancerous lung removed nearly 18 months before. He insisted on doing all his own stunts to show the public that the illness hadn't slowed him down.

More trivia for The Sons of Katie Elder

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.