Revealing mistake: In the night shootout, Magnum cocks his pistol in a close-up that is obvious performed by a trained stunt double. Whoever is doing this is wearing the same clothes Magnum has but with the T-shirt in pristine condition straight from the washing machine, while Tom Selleck just took a dive in the dirt. Moreover, he wears the team ring upside-down. (00:22:50)
Revealing mistake: In the opening of the second third of the season (the one with the iconic Mike Post theme) there is a brief scene with a car propelled in the air by an explosion. It's an outtake from the pilot movie, since the banged up car is very recognizable, but it's also easy to see why it was an outtake; you can easily see cables used to make the car fly in the air. Also, that car was not in an explosion in that episode.
Revealing mistake: In the final car chase, the military police radios for reinforcement; in the exterior shot that follows the one inside the limo with Rick on his back, foot on the cockpit, you can see quite distinctly the two stuntmen meant to be Magnum and Rick, and totally not looking like them. (00:46:30)
All Roads Lead to Floyd - S1-E13
Revealing mistake: While Magnum is a passenger in Floyd's car, in the closeups of both of them with Floyd at the steering wheel, there is black cloth over the door beside Floyd (presumably covering the device that secures the side camera to the door), which does not exist in wide shots.
Revealing mistake: When Laura is wearing a swimsuit, the bulging rectangular outline of a hidden mic transmitter is visible at her right side, while she's with Magnum on the beach at Robin's Nest. (00:07:00)
The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii - S1-E8
Revealing mistake: While Magnum is driving the Jimmy along with Sharon and Algie, in the shots facing only Sharon there's a bar (device to secure second camera onto that side window) with duct tape attached to the passenger door. (00:18:30)
Never Again... Never Again - S1-E7
Revealing mistake: While Magnum and Rick are driving to Greenberg's house, as Magnum shouts that they're not meddling, in this shot there's a bar with duct tape (device to secure side camera) over the Ferrari door beside Magnum's left arm, where the camera is located at this particular angle. (00:10:25)
Thank Heaven for Little Girls and Big Ones Too - S1-E4
Revealing mistake: When Higgins threatens to phone the police to report Linda, Lesli stands up beside Linda and asserts, "If she goes, we go," but in this shot the person wearing Linda's clothes is actually the body double, who quickly shifts her face offscreen. (00:26:30)
China Doll - S1-E3
Revealing mistake: During the drive to Uncle Han, when Magnum asks about the vase's worth there's something with duct tape on the Ferrari door near Magnum's left shoulder, where the camera is located at this particular angle. (00:27:05)
Revealing mistake: When the guy tricked by Magnum gets out of the car, check out of the very right side of the frame. You can actually see the hand of one crew member releasing the garage jack's lock, so that, when the car is kicked, the relatively light impact is enough to release the hydraulic lift and make the car comically bounce back on the ground. (00:15:25)
Revealing mistake: Magnum manages to shake off the 'government guy' by putting his car on a jack while Babs provides a distraction. But if you check the moment when the guy gets on the car, the back wheels are in frame and not at all off the ground as the clever ruse needs them to be. (00:14:40)
Revealing mistake: During the jogging phase, which may not be hazardous but surely is defatigating, Tom Selleck is replaced consistently and noticeably (except the close-ups, of course) by his stunt double Tom Lupo. (00:40:35)
Revealing mistake: Magnum neutralizes the pursuer at the gas station jacking his car. In the close-up of the wheels spinning with no traction and then stopping, the hubcap is in pristine condition, but in the next one, it sports a dent already from a previous take. (00:15:20)
Revealing mistake: Magnum is carrying up the mountain stairway a Higgins-shaped dummy instead of the real John Hillerman, as obvious by the lifeless bounce of its legs. (00:38:20)
Revealing mistake: Rene cleverly avoids the trap; he turns the wheel to the left, but the car swerves to the right. (00:02:10)
Revealing mistake: The moment Magnum hops on the Ferrari ending the brawl on the beach with the two goons in ski masks, parallel to the tire tracks in the sand you can see others from a previous take. (00:23:25)
Revealing mistake: In Magnum's close-up as he looks at The Black Orchid, the scar prosthesis has a visible contour. (00:05:30)
Revealing mistake: After Magnum gets punched by Ted Danson, he drives off. Oddly enough, he drives by TC's van, parked in front of one of the villas of the area, and that has no business being there. (00:24:05)
Revealing mistake: Mrs. Kimball falls off the wheelchair in an alternative take, featuring a stuntperson instead of the elder actress. Problem is, the stuntperson is barefoot, and Mercedes McCambridge wears socks and slippers. (00:05:50)
Revealing mistake: When Agatha Kimball gets her wheelchair caught in a gap between the step and the ramp, stagehands can be seen as they safely hold Mercedes McCambridge to avoid her getting hurt. (00:05:45)
