Factual error: The Russians stopped using steam locomotives in the 1970's. So bringing one out of retirement in 1997 to haul nuclear warheads would mean that your highly secret nuclear train would be well known among rail enthusiasts for weeks before.
The Peacemaker (1997)
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Starring: Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Aleksandr Baluev, Marcel Iures
Factual error: When LtCol Devoe enlists the help of the US Air Force in Turkey to intercept the truck carrying the nuclear warheads, the squadron is operating Eurocopter AS 565 Panther multirole helicopters. The USAF does not and has never had AS 565's in their inventory.
Continuity mistake: As Nicole walks across a plaza with Clooney to meet the Russian spy, she is wearing sheer stockings and low pumps. As she walks off the plaza she is wearing knee high boots with fur tops.
Suggested correction: I think what we see from behind, under the coat is dark trousers and dark low heels.
Thomas Devoe: I don't know about these guys, but General Aleksandr Kodoroff doesn't ride around on a nuclear transportation train. It's like Ivana Trump on the subway.
Julia Kelly: So do you think he set us up?
Thomas Devoe: Who?
Julia Kelly: Your friend.
Thomas Devoe: No.
Julia Kelly: How can you be so sure?
Thomas Devoe: Because he's my friend.
Question: At the end of the movie, George Clooney and Nicole Kidman are trying to remove one of the small explosive plates that surround the plutonium sphere in a nuclear weapon. Couldn't they have just disconnected the wire connected to the explosive plate to prevent that trigger charge detonating properly? Or would it have detonated because it was touching the other plates?
Answer: Presumably they couldn't take the risk that removing the wire would stop that plate detonating, and/or were worried that there might be a failsafe to detect a wire being cut. Physically removing the charge seemed like the safer bet.
Question: Wouldn't they know something was up when the train explosion wasn't as huge as it should have been (because many of the bombs were missing, and thus making the explosion smaller)?
Answer: The two train engines colliding caused the explosions, all the other cars derailed. All the warheads were carefully packed and disarmed.
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