Factual error: Sir Malcolm and Evelyn fire the Mauser C96 Broomhandle pistol. The series is set in 1891 or 1892 and this weapon was not introduced until 1897.
Necrothesp
6th Jul 2015
Penny Dreadful (2014)
6th Jul 2015
Penny Dreadful (2014)
Factual error: Sir Malcolm tells Vanessa to wear a facemask when they go to minister to the poor as cholera is rife in the area. However, the series is set in the 1890s and it had been well-known since the 1850s that cholera was caused by contaminated food and water and not by airborne germs. As an educated man, Sir Malcolm is bound to know this.
2nd Jul 2015
Byzantium (2012)
Plot hole: Ruthven is apparently bitter that he has been denied his chance of becoming an immortal vampire after Clara steals the map from him, which is why he attacks Eleanor. But why doesn't he just go to the island anyway? You don't need to be invited - Clara, Eleanor and Frank aren't. Having been there once, it seems highly unlikely he can't find it again - he's a naval captain, so navigation and observation are major professional skills for him. And it isn't hidden or magically protected - the local boatmen know where it is and are prepared to take people there, although they won't set foot on it themselves. He could quite easily have gone there without the map, entered the shrine and been turned into a vampire if that's what he wanted.
21st Jun 2015
1864 (2014)
Factual error: Helmuth von Moltke is addressed and referred to several times as Field Marshal. He wasn't promoted to that rank until 1871. He was a lieutenant-general during the Second Schleswig War in 1864.
3rd Jun 2015
Casualty (1986)
Continuity mistake: Louis Fairhead's year of birth is given as 1992. He was actually born during Series 11 in 1996.
14th May 2015
Death Proof (2007)
Character mistake: Jungle Julia refers several times to Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mitch and Tich, instead of Mick and Tich.
21st Apr 2015
The Devil's Rock (2011)
Factual error: Colonel Meyer's promotions are listed in his SS ID card as Hauptmann, Oberstleutnant and Oberst. Since the SS used a different ranking system from the Wehrmacht, they should actually be Hauptsturmführer, Obersturmbannführer and Standartenführer.
21st Apr 2015
Pompeii (2014)
Factual error: There was no Roman law saying a gladiator had to be freed after a certain number of victories and no gladiator would have believed there was. It was entirely up to his owner whether or when he was freed.
21st Apr 2015
Pompeii (2014)
Factual error: The people of Pompeii are frequently referred to as not being Roman citizens. They very definitely were Roman citizens with full rights. You didn't have to come from the actual City of Rome to be a Roman citizen, as is implied in this film.
19th Apr 2015
Haven (2010)
Factual error: The 1725 issue of 'The Haven Herald' used as part of every episode's title sequence is packed with errors. It is written in modern English, with some very modern turns of phrase (e.g. Had it with this town, get on with her life). The same paragraph appears twice. It is headed "Haven, Me." - Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820 and the abbreviation was not commonly used at all until the 20th century. And it costs 2 cents - until 1793 British-style pounds, shillings and pence were used throughout America. Also, February 18th 1725 was a Sunday, not a Tuesday.
17th Apr 2015
The Borgias (2011)
The Beautiful Deception - S2-E3
Factual error: Cardinal della Rovere says he wishes to join the Dominican Order instead of the Capuchin Order because the former's rule is stricter. In actual fact, the Capuchin rule is one of the strictest of all Roman Catholic orders, something which della Rovere would certainly have known.
11th Apr 2015
The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971)
Factual error: When the judge is interrogating Margaret, a very un-18th century filling can be seen in her teeth.
2nd Dec 2014
The Fall (2013)
Factual error: Superintendent Gibson wears her Metropolitan Police uniform to the press conference. She is wearing a tie, but female officers in the Met instead wear a black and white cravat.
15th Oct 2014
Sherlock (2010)
Factual error: In "The Bloody Guardsman" case, the guardsmen are on sentry duty unarmed. Sentries always carry rifles.
13th Oct 2014
Sherlock (2010)
Factual error: In "The Bloody Guardsman" case, Bainbridge, who is in the Welsh Guards, is referred to by everyone, including himself, as "Private Bainbridge." The Foot Guards use the rank of Guardsman instead of Private.
7th Sep 2014
Homeland (2011)
Continuity mistake: When Brody is captured in the previous episode his head is completely shaved. This episode takes place no more than a few days later (it is actually implied that it is three days), but he now has a full head of hair.
9th Jul 2014
Ironclad (2011)
Factual error: King John succeeded in capturing Rochester Castle. The French arrived in England about six months later.
9th Jul 2014
Ironclad (2011)
Factual error: William d'Aubigny was not killed during the siege. He survived to support John's son, Henry III.
9th Jul 2014
Ironclad (2011)
Factual error: Rochester Castle is seen standing alone and isolated from any other settlement. In actual fact it stands on the edge of the City of Rochester and very close to Rochester Cathedral, both of which certainly existed at this time.
5th May 2014
Grimm (2011)
Factual error: Frankie's official military record shows her rank and grade as Specialist E-3. E-3 is a Private First Class. A Specialist is E-4.
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.