Factual errors: The film shows George "Babyface" Nelson on his way to the electric chair. But George Nelson was never arrested in Mississippi, and was killed by police bullets north of Chicago in 1934. The filmmakers knew this.
Anachronisms: Evidently set during the Great Depression, yet prominently features "You Are My Sunshine," which was a hit song of the 1940s. The filmmakers knew this.
Continuity: When receiving the prophecy from the blind old man the train from earlier in the scene can be seen down the track. It is parked and not moving away from the actors.
Factual errors: If a valley is intentionally flooded, it's a slow and ongoing process and not a flash flood. This would only happen if a dam bursts .. but then there wouldn't be a lake afterwards. A flash flood would be sheer mud and not clear water.
Audio/visual unsynchronised: The people singing along with "You Are My Sunshine" near the end are clearly a few beats off. Their clapping syncs up but they're singing a different line.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The car breaks down, and the men are told a new part will take two weeks to arrive. Shortly after, they are driving away -- because they stole another car.
Anachronisms: In the movie theatre, clearly posted above each door is a modern red-lit EXIT sign.
Factual errors: The real W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel had no presence in Mississippi politics. He was a Texas flour salesman who became a regional radio personality (as host of broadcasts of Bob Wills and the Light Crust Doughboys), then used that as a platform to launch himself into Texas politics, becoming governor, then Senator. The filmmakers knew this.
Continuity: Big Dan Teague's eye patch changes color, because he's a big man and sweats a lot. However, the location of the sweat changes frequently. Also, he may have changed clothes (and patch) before going out.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Ulysses first talks to his daughters while they are on stage, he does not appear to have his thin mustache, due to a trick of the lighting.
Anachronisms: In the crowd scene, where the Wharvey sisters are singing, the man smoking as Ulysses pushes by him is smoking a filter tip cigarette.
Audio/visual unsynchronised: In the cafe with Big Dan Teague, Everett's voice doesn't match up with his lips while he is ordering during the closeups of Big Dan.
Factual errors: In the exterior views of the radio station where the Soggy Bottom Boys record their song, it is apparent that there are no power or telephone lines connected to the building and yet the station clearly has electricity and a phone is on the wall just inside the front door. Utility lines were not placed underground in rural Mississippi in the 1930s. Also, the broadcast tower (whose upper portion is never seen) appears to have no cables or wires of any sort.
Continuity: When George "Babyface" Nelson fires his tommy gun at the ceiling during the bank robbery, the ceiling, clearly visible above his gun barrel, shows no bullet holes.
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the escapees suddenly realize that large numbers of Christian congregants are walking by them singing, it comes as a surprise; this could be because they walked from the church to the river, and so arrived fairly quietly.
Audio/visual unsynchronised: Both the Baptist congregation and the Sirens are supposed to be singing in the open air, but the sound of their singing was obviously recorded indoors.
Anachronisms: The currency blowing around in Baby Face Nelson's car appears to be modern rather than 1930s vintage.
Continuity: When Ulysses goes into the department store to confront his wife, you see her fiance walking around upstairs. It cuts away and when it cuts back, he walks the same place he walked before.
Anachronisms: When Ulysses is walking out of the store having found his pomade, a modern electrical transformer can be seen on a utility pole in the background.
Continuity: At the end of the film, Penny is carrying the baby, but there are only 5 girls tied to the string. There should be 6 as they have 7 daughters. The child with the dark hair that sang with her two sisters is missing.
Anachronisms: The Martin guitar played by the woman at the rally is obviously not from the era. The gold sealed gear tuning machines were first used in the 60's.
Continuity: The scenes before and after the flood must only be one or two minutes apart, as they were able to hold their breath and not drown. But before the flood it is very sunny (strong shadows), and after the flood the sky is a hazy white (no shadows).
Audio/visual unsynchronised: During the scene where the crowd is escorting "Baby Face" Nelson to the electric chair, two musicians are playing. One is playing the fiddle, the other a mandolin. However, the music we hear is that of a fiddle and guitar.
Continuity: The newspaper is dated July yet there are wet yellow leaves on the ground, among other indications of autumn.
Anachronisms: During the picnic with Big Dan, the guys are drinking Budweiser, but the labels are clearly from a modern Budweiser bottle.
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