Deliberate mistake: The mechanic points out the overhead installation of the indicator compass. He says "Want to see where I put the compass? It's the best place I could find for it." The installation site was planned, not improvised. In order to read the compass in a mirror the compass was specially ordered from the manufacturer with the numbers reversed so it could only be read in a mirror. This mistake was intentional in order to claim a mirror was needed from a bit character.
The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
1 deliberate mistake
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: James Stewart, Murray Hamilton, Bartlett Robinson, Patricia Smith
Other mistake: When Lindbergh is forced to parachute out of a stalled plane near the beginning of the movie, the plane goes into a spin. It crosses the screen twice, first below Lindbergh's parachute and then above, indicating that Lindbergh is falling faster than the plane (which is possible, since the plane is spiraling rather than falling straight down). However (as indicated by the loud noise heard off-camera), the plane somehow manages to hit the ground first.
Father Hussman: How come I never see you around church? You don't believe?
Charles Lindbergh: Well, yes, I believe. I believe in an instrument panel, a pressure gauge, a compass, things I can see and touch. I can't touch God.
Father Hussman: You're not supposed to! He touches you.
Trivia: The real Charles Lindbergh was never allowed on the set of the film. Jimmy Stewart said if he showed up, all the cast would walk off. Lindbergh was hated for his pre-WW2 actives with Nazi Germany.
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