Factual error: Just before it shows Ailbileen using her newly built outside bathroom, there is a overview shot of Elizabeth's house. The house has architectural (3 dimensional) shingles installed but according to Nachi.org, these shingles were not introduced to market until the 1970's.
Continuity mistake: In the scene where Skeeter is on the phone with the lady who is interested in the book, she has an ashtray with a lit cigarette in it. In the next shot it is gone and the cigarette is in her hand, the next time it shows her the ashtray is back in its original position.
Factual error: When Minny is explaining to Celia how to cook/fry chicken, she lists things one can do with Crisco, all while holding the can of Crisco. The label on the can of Crisco was light blue until 1988, when it was then changed to the medium blue which is shown in the scene.
Continuity mistake: When Skeeter enters Brent's Drugs after the ladies' meeting, Elizabeth has on a pair of purple floral earrings. When she greets Skeeter with a "hey" there are no earrings. The shot then pans to Hilly motioning Elizabeth to move over and the earrings are back again.
Continuity mistake: In the last scene where Aibileen gets fired, her second button is undone when she walks into the living room. When she bends down it is buttoned, when she stands up it is unbuttoned, then in the next shot it is buttoned again.
Factual error: Several scenes show cast members talking on telephones with modular cord plugs connecting the phone to the handsets. These modular plugs were not yet invented.
Factual error: The aerial shot of Celia Foote's plantation toward the end of the field shows the fence rows lined with round hay bales. Round hay bales were not in the United States until the 1970s. Also, a cotton farm does not have round hay bales.
Factual error: In the scene where Minny is delivering the pie to Hilly she is walking down the driveway and the sprinklers are running. Gear driven water sprinklers were not introduced until 1974.
Factual error: There's a scene where one of the maids is vacuuming the bear in the house. At this point in the movie, it is around 1962-1963. President Kennedy hasn't been assassinated yet. Then the camera moves to a shot of the vacuum cleaner. It is an Electrolux Olympia canister made in 1978. I know, because I have two of them.
Factual error: In the background behind the lady talking in New York, the W R Grace building is in the background, but the building wasn't built until 1973.
Continuity mistake: When Skeeter is getting in the truck to go on her date, her hair is already messed up, like it is when she gets to Hilly's home. (01:21:00)
Factual error: The opening song is "Jackson," with Skeeter driving home, by Johnny Cash and June Carter which was recorded in 1967. The movie takes place in 1963.
