Buffalo Soldiers (2001)
Goofs
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Anachronisms (5) |
Audio/visual unsynchronised (4) |
Character error (1) |
Continuity (2) |
Crew or equipment visible (1) |
Factual errors (1) |
Revealing mistakes (2) |
Spoilers (1)
Anachronisms
Sergeant Lee wears a Combat Infantryman Badge with two stars (third award) on his uniform. In order to qualify for this he would have to have fought in WWII and the Korean War as well as the Vietnam War. US Army enlisted personnel usually must retire after 30 years of service. This film is set in 1989 which is 36 years after the Korean war and 44 years after WWII.
The license plate of Elwood's Mercedes and the other civil cars in the camp are German license plates. But before 2000 the license plates of the US Army were different. Their size and shape were been identical to original US license plates. Numbers and letters were only relevant for administration. Between the pair of letters and the three-digit number the letters "USA" were placed.
During the opening scene, Elwood's Mercedes carries a Karlsruhe temporary plate (KA-04xxxx) of the 1995 European model.
In the bar in 1989 there's a Williams "Diner" pinball machine. This machine was first manufactured in January 1990.
Characters are shown listening to "Bear Witness" by Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith), which wasn't released until 1996. The movie is set in 1989.
Audio/visual unsynchronised
When Sgt. Lee and his daughter in the car after the Civil War party, she asks him if he wants to kill Elwood, to which he asks her what she's talking about. She says, "Do you?" However, her lips do not move when saying that line.
When they pick up the HMMWV, they are talking to Sgt Lee as they climb in. When they shut the door, you hear the door slam shut, and the lock clicking. The doors fitted to this type of HMMWV are soft doors, which don't make a noise when they close, and don't have a lock. They close by turning a plastic handle.
Elwood disables the girl's car by disconnecting the battery
link, but when she tries to start it you can hear the car turn over. If the battery was disconnected there would have been no response from the engine at all. Elwood doesnt have a wrench to disconnect the battery. He pulls the distributor cap wire. Then the car can turn over without starting.
When Elwood claps eyes on Robyn at the swimming pool while talking to Liz Berman, Liz says sarcastically, "See something you like, Elwood?", but Elizabeth McGovern's mouth does not match this.
Character error
The town where the US depot is located is called Siegelsbach not Seigelsbach.
Continuity
When Elwood is seen lying by the side of the pool having been beaten up, he is surrounded by splotches of his own blood. These vanish shortly afterwards.
The plates on Elwood's Mercedes change from Euro Karlsruhe plates to old Mannheim plates.
Crew or equipment visible
When the tank runs over the Volkswagen Beetle, you can see the cable holding it down so it doesn't get pushed along (it's painted to blend in with the road).
Factual errors
While making the heroin, the characters eat lots of meat to stop themselves getting high off the fumes. This wouldn't work in real life.
Revealing mistakes
When Elwood looks at Sergeant Lee's personnel file on the computer, it says his date of birth is 10/08/1954. The film is set in October 1989 which would make him only 35 years old. Scott Glenn was 60 when this film was made (and looks it too).
When Elwood is firing the machine gun at his Merc, the bullets in the gun first appear to be real (before firing). However, as firing begins it is apparent that there are blanks loaded on the chain (crimped ends instead of a bullet).
Spoilers
Factual errors
At the end of the film, we see Elwood has been awarded the Purple Heart and Defense Superior Service Medals, and learn that Sergeant Lee was awarded a posthumous Silver Star. The Silver Star and Purple Heart are awarded for combat only. The Silver Star is for gallantry in action, and the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat or being killed in action. The Defense Superior Service Medal is a Department of Defense medal and is awarded almost exclusively to officers over the rank of Major.
