Magnum, P.I.

The Arrow That Is Not Aimed - S3-E13

Character mistake: At the end of the episode, Magnum says "You know what they say about samurai swords - you unsheathe 'em, you gotta draw blood!", but throughout the episode, Tozan drew his sword on Magnum and the villain and no blood has been drawn - in case of Magnum, there was no intention of it either.

Sammo

The Arrow That Is Not Aimed - S3-E13

Other mistake: Magnum mispronounces the word 'seppuku' calling it it 'seppuki', prompting Higgins to correct him. He plays the role of the usual Westerner who is unfamiliar with the word and concept. But in the previous season, in 2-9, "The Taking of Dick McWilliams", not only he already had to deal with the prospect of ritual suicide, but he spontaneously mentioned the word himself ("Seppuku? You're willing to let your daughter kill herself?") with the other person simply mentioning a vague 'honorable thing to do'.

Sammo

Magnum, P.I. mistake picture

Mr. White Death - S3-E8

Continuity mistake: Magnum walks back to the car after spending 4 hours at the archives. A woman with a brown dress with a red belt crosses his path and walks away. Magnum then stands in front of the parkometer (and the parking tickets), but the woman is just then passing him by. (00:23:00)

Sammo

Flashback - S3-E6

Audio problem: Magnum slips into the car in 1936 with his client out of the club. If you pay attention to the audio, there is sometimes a droning noise as if someone were using a leaf blower nearby (it's actually because in editing they cut out all sounds below a certain level - but some of it spiked enough to stay into the audible range). (00:11:20)

Sammo

Flashback - S3-E6

Factual error: At the movies, Magnum is watching a movie with Bette Davis, the first one she played in, "The Bad Sister" and comments "Keep it up, old girl, you just might have a future as an actress." Funny, but the dream is set in 1936, not 1931 when that movie came out. Implausibility of finding it in theaters aside, by 1936 young Bette Davis had already won her first Oscar. (00:30:30)

Sammo

Flashback - S3-E6

Continuity mistake: Marisa during the movie gives Thomas an appointment. When she says "That's where I hid the papers." the woman in the background is leaning against her left hand. The chat continues in the next shot but the woman's position is different and gone is the hand. (00:30:20)

Sammo

Flashback - S3-E6

Factual error: When Magnum offers popcorn to Irene Yah-Ling Sun, he is holding it in a box. In 1936, bags were the norm, and the design of the box is from at least a couple decades later. (00:29:00)

Sammo

Flashback - S3-E6

Factual error: The very first plane in the scene when Magnum goes where he'll meet TC is a Piper J-3 Cub. They enter production in 1938, but this episode is set in 1936. (00:16:55)

Sammo

Almost Home - S3-E10

Other mistake: When Magnum passes a can of nondescript soda to Bridget outside of the Navy building after the chat with Maggie, the vending machine has a big triangle of masking tape to conceal the Coca Cola logo for sponsorship reasons - however the production failed to cover the Sprite button which remains recognizable. (00:13:00)

Sammo

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: This is not a mirrored shot. The brand name "Ajax" (all lowercase letters as "ajax") on all three of the cleansers is not backwards; neither is the Pan Dandy soap jug in the sink. And the scars on Larry Manetti's face are in their proper places.

Super Grover

Flashback - S3-E6

Factual error: Magnum gets to the airfield looking for TC the first time, at the very beginning of his drive you can see in the building in the background a modern window AC unit - that kind of device was available in 1936, but its cost certainly makes it unlikely, as it'd cost the equivalent of $8,000 today, not really something for the dingy shack it's mounted on. (00:16:55)

Sammo

Of Sound Mind - S3-E12

Higgins: How fiendishly deceptive of you, Magnum. I could have sworn I was hearing the emasculation of a large rodent. To my great surprise, I see the sounds are emanating from what I thought was a harmless musical instrument.
Magnum: Cute Higgins, real cute.
Higgins: Why Magnum? Why do this terrible thing?
Magnum: Higgins, I'll have you know I used to be very good. I was the second best sax player in my High School band!
Higgins: Well, how many sax players were there?!
Magnum: ...Anyway. I just saw this in a pawn shop window and thought I'd like to try and get my chops back.
Higgins: May I suggest that your "chops" are irretrievable.
Magnum: Higgins, did you come here just to abuse me!?
(00:05:25)

Sammo

More quotes from Magnum, P.I.
More trivia for Magnum, P.I.

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.