Factual error: As a newspaper from January of 1980 is displayed, the Rolling Stones song "Little T&A" is played. That song appeared on the "Tattoo You" album, which was not released until Aug. 24, 1981.
Factual error: The turbans worn in the scenes in Tehran are not the sort worn by Iranian clergy - they are wound incorrectly and are too flat.
Factual error: The Swiss Air 747 in the movie had an extended upper deck. The first Swiss Air 747-300 did not fly until 1982, and didn't enter commercial service until 1983, well after the events of this movie.
Factual error: Iranian revolutionary guards didn't have caps with their uniforms until 1988 (after the end of the Iran-Iraq war).
Factual error: In 1980 the Canadian airport we see was called Dorval international airport, not Trudeau.
Factual error: References to NZ Embassy staff not assisting escapees in Tehran are wholly inaccurate, as Ben Affleck admitted post-release.
Factual error: The opening narration states that a US-backed coup overthrew the democratically elected prime minister of Iran in 1953, and Reza Pahlavi was installed as Shah. First, the PM in Iran was not democratically elected, but appointed by the parliament with approval of the Shah. Second, Reza Pahlavi became Shah in 1941 - the coup in 1953 simply allowed the royal family to reclaim rule over the country.
Factual error: Early in the movie in the American Embassy, a reprint of a WPA poster of Grand Canyon is seen on the wall behind a desk. Those reprints were not started until the late 1980s.
Factual error: At the end of the movie a large Boba Fett action figure is shown on the shelf. The only Boba Fett toys available before "The Empire Strikes Back" was released in 1980 were small action figures sent as a free gift promotion to people who had collected enough "proof of purchase" tokens for purchasing enough other "Star Wars" action figures from the Kenner toy company.
Answer: A film crew is more credible than a group of tourists being involved in this type of activity. Tourists' behavior would be more limited and subject to being noticed by authorities if they acted in a unusual manner. A film crew would have access to more out-of-the-way locations, and if they acted suspiciously, could pass it off as it being part of making a movie.
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