Goofs

After the trial, the captain speaks with Budd below decks. In some shots Billy's head cast a long shadow on his left shoulder. In others, a short one. Then his head's shadow is on his right shoulder.

When Claggart dies, his head tilts to his right. The Captain and Billy exit the cabin. Moments later, the Captain and surgeon return to the cabin. Claggart's head is pointing straight forward.

When Billy Budd first comes onboard the British ship, he witnesses a sailor being flogged and is told by everyone that no one even knows what the sailor had done. This would not be the case in the Royal Navy, since at all floggings the Captain was required to read in front of the crew the specific Article of War which had been violated and then state the number of lashes for the offense.

When Budd is removed by a sentry after his trial in the captain's quarters a sheathed knife is clearly visible on his hip. Since he is being tried and held for murder it would be absurd to allow him to keep a deadly weapon on his person.

Giving Captain Vere a false account of a conspiracy, Claggart states, "They were collected here, in the lee fore-chains." He says this while they are in fact standing in the captain's cabin, aft of the mizzenmast, and about as far from the fore-chains as it is possible to go while remaining onboard.

Captain Vere holds up a book to the right side of his face to shield his eyes when he stares up at Billy on the mast, but his shadow indicates that the glare of the sun is coming from his left.