The Age of Innocence (1993)
Goofs
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Anachronisms (7) |
Audio/visual unsynchronised (3) |
Boom mic visible (2) |
Continuity (2) |
Factual errors (2) |
Revealing mistakes (1)
Anachronisms
At the end of the opera scene (shot at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia), there is an exterior shot of the building. A neon parking garage sign is reflected in the glass doors of the opera house. Neon wasn't discovered until 1898.
During the baptism of Newland's and May's child, the family priest blesses the child with "the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit" instead of "the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost". The usage of this phrase only came about after the revision of the Episcopalian prayer book in the 1920s.
The painting, "Le Printemps" or "The Return of Spring" by Bouguereau, which hangs in the Beaufort's red drawing room, was painted in 1886, while the film is set in the 1870s.
Set in the 1870s, the dancers at the ball are dancing at one point to Johann Strauss's "Emperor Waltz", which was not composed until 1888.
In the long Parisian shot showing Saint-Louis Island with the Pantheon at the rear, night and day, TV antennas can be seen on the roofs of the buildings.
In the Parisian scene, a 'zebra crossing' can be seen in the background.
When Ellen declares her love to Newland, on the wall behind her can be seen the painting "The Art, the Caresses, the Sphynx" that was painted by Fernand Khnoppf in 1896. The movie is set in the 1870s.
Audio/visual unsynchronised
At the dinner in Paris, May says, "When we were in London, we could only manage one day at the National," but her lips actually mouth the words "one day at the Tate." The original dialogue would have been anachronistic, as the story is set in the 1870s and the Tate Gallery did not open until 1897.
When the grandmother tells Newland and May that a marble likeness of her hands was sculpted by a famous artist, she says the name of the artist, but her lips look as though they've said something completely different.
Early in the story, Ellen and Beaufort enter Mrs. Mingott's home as Archer, May, and Mrs. Welland are leaving. As May is heard saying "Good bye, Ellen", May looks in her direction as the words are said, but May's lips are clearly not moving.
Boom mic visible
In the scene when Newland and May visit Mrs. Mingott after hearing of her stroke, as the servants carry her into the Drawing Room and set her down, a boom mic is visible at the top of the screen.
When Newland first visits Ellen at her house (the day after the party at the Van der Leydens), the boom mic is visible above her head as she's removing her gloves and hat.
Continuity
When Newland is sitting outside Ellen's apartment waiting for his son, the butler closes the window. As he does, the window catches the bright sun several times and is reflected on Newland's face. As he walks away, the sun is obviously (by shadows) coming from the opposite direction; thus, it would be impossible for it to be reflected by the window.
On the park bench in Boston, Newland Archer sits down with Ellen Olenska. As he sits, his gloves are off, and his wedding ring can be seen. The camera cuts away and then back, and his gloves are on. He then removes them.
Factual errors
The opera which is supposedly performed in the opening scene is Gounod's "Faust", written in French. However, what actually is sung is a scene from Boito's version of the same story, "Mefistofele", written in Italian. At the end of the scene, as the carriages outside the opera house are seen, the music has reverted to Gounod's "Faust", sung in French.
When they are walking overlooking the Hudson, the is a clear view of a cell tower in the distance.
Revealing mistakes
When Mrs. Mingott tries to give a party in honor of Countess Olenska, not one of her invitations is accepted, but the handwriting is the same on each separate refusal.