Throughout most of the film, Joe Bass had two rifles, usually in scabbards on the right side of the horse. The horizontally holstered rifle made several dis- and re- appearances over the course of the movie.
Joseph pointing out the window at Pluto cannot happen due to it not being visible to the naked eye. Not only that, it was also on the opposite side of the Sun in the mid-1800s.
When Joe started the avalanche by prying a large boulder loose, it started a chain reaction rocks with a large part of the mountainside coming down. Even though he pried other boulders loose, he couldn't possibly cover the hundred yards width of avalanche that did come down. Gravity chain reactions don't react sideways.
Joseph tells Joe that Julius Caeser took English slaves. While Caeser did take Britons as slaves they were Celts, the ancestors of today's Welsh and Bretons.
He was discussing slavery, not ancient British history. He knew Joe Bass would recognize who "English slaves" would be, but maybe not "Celtic slaves".
There were no English at this time. The ancestors of the English were the Germanic tribes living in Saxony at this time.
He was discussing slavery, not ancient British history. He knew Joe Bass would recognize who "English slaves" would be, but maybe not "Celtic slaves".
There were no English at this time. The ancestors of the English were the Germanic tribes living in Saxony at this time.
Set in 1860, Joseph mentions the planet Pluto, discovered in 1930.
All of the weapons shown came into use after the Civil War, except for the Colt Revolving rifle. The rifle used by Burt Lancaster is supposed to be a Henry but is actually a 1892 Winchester with the forearm removed.
At c.34 minutes the guitarist plays only open strings despite the more elaborate soundtrack.
During the fight scene between Joe and Joseph, the white wire used to pull Joe out of the ditch is visible.
While discussing astrology Joseph Lee tells Kate that Napoleon and her lover Jim Howie share the same birthday of July 27th. Napoleon was born on August 15th.