Factual error: At the beginning of the film, the map of Europe is not from September 1939, which should be showing Nazi Germany, including east territories and Austria. It's from 1993 or later, showing the democratic Federal Republic of Germany after its reunification. The modern map has just been covered by a Nazi flag. (00:04:55)
Factual error: Early in the film Hugh Jackman is using a 1990s plastic toothbrush. (00:15:25)
Factual error: One can read in the newspaper "Standard" dated from Monday 11 May 1941 the headline "Germany urges Japan to enter war". The text below says that Germany urged Japan to attack the USSR as Berlin broke the non-aggression pact the previous month. But Germany attacked the Soviet Union on 22 June 1941, so the newspaper article should be dated July 1941. Besides, this information was top secret and could not have appeared in a newspaper in May 1941. (01:14:15)
Factual error: Outside the Territory Hotel, during the storm, and once earlier in the movie, the taxi cabs are shown with the modern "flip over" vacancy/hired signs that were not used then.
Factual error: In the scene where the Japanese are attacking Darwin, the American Battleship USS Oklahoma is shown being bombed and torpedoed. The USS Oklahoma capsized after being attacked at Pearl Harbor several months earlier. This appears to actually be a piece of a scene from the 2001 movie "Pearl Harbor".
Factual error: The cattle used in the film are a Santa Gertrudis cross breed. These were originally bred in USA & brought to Australia around the 1960's.
Factual error: The Australian Army slouch hats worn in the film show a folded cotton puggaree. An unfolded felt puggaree was replaced by the folded cotton puggaree in 1942, mostly mid to late 1942. The soldiers are shown wearing the folded cotton puggarees in late 1941 and February 1942.
Factual error: Paspaley Pearls not established as a company in Darwin until 1946, yet one of the buildings bears a sign for this company.
Factual error: When the first part of the "Wizard of Oz" is being shown at the outdoor theater, it appears black and white. Actually, the first part of the original version of the film was in sepia tone (brown and white).
Answer: So they'd be unable to water their cattle. Which has two benefits for Fletcher. The first being that they'd have to take their cattle to the watering hole on the border of their property, making it easier for Fletcher to steal the cows. Second, and more long term, their cattle would be of poorer quality due to lack of proper care. The ranch would lose money as a result, and they'd be more amenable to selling the ranch to their competition, whom Fletcher works for.
Phixius ★