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 - chronological order
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Starring: James Stewart, Murray Hamilton, Bartlett Robinson, Patricia Smith
Factual error: While flying across the U.S. before the Atlantic attempt Stewart lands and exits the plane. While doing a quick inspection of the airframe he approaches the engine and puts his hand on one of the radial engines cylinders which would have still been several hundred degrees, so should have resulted in a serious burn.
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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