- Anachronisms: Blood's ship sometimes has two square-rigged sails on the rear mast. This was not done until the mid-eighteenth century, approximately fifteen years after the story takes place.
- Revealing mistakes: Levasseur's eyes blink after the second wave has passed over his dead body.
- Continuity: When Blood is discussing his escape plans with Drs. Bronson and Whacker, the end of his belt is out of the buckle. A few seconds later, it is neatly tucked in.
- Anachronisms: When Arabella Bishop is about to take ship for England she is carrying a small dog, a Pekingese. The Pekingese was unknown outside of China until the late 18th century while the movie takes place in the 17th century.
- Revealing mistakes: While Lavasseur is lying in the surf after being killed in the duel with Peter Blood, waves splash over him from his head in the close-up, but from his feet in the longer shot. Also, the fresh blood coming out of the corner of his mouth is not washed away. It is still present and not washed away in the second shot of him at the end of the scene.
- Factual errors: The film is set in 1685 and refers to Philip being the king of Spain. Carlos II was king of Spain at this time.
- Anachronisms: During the last battle, the overhead shot of the French ship has the officers and crew in early 19th century uniforms.
- Continuity: When governor Steed receives treatment from Dr. Blood, Steed holds the cane beside the armchair in the establishing shot. In the next shot the cane is between his legs.
- Anachronisms: The Spanish privateers are noted as sailing under the 'gold and crimson' of the Spanish flag. However, the Spanish did not adopt a flag in gold and red until later into the 1700s, years after the film is supposed to be set.
- Anachronisms: The courtroom scene is introduced by a shot of the royal coat of arms, in the form adopted in 1837. In the next scene, a window in the palace shows the shield correct for 1603-1707, reflecting the claim on the crown of France first made by Edward III of England in 1340.
- Revealing mistakes: No gunner, whether aboard ship or on land would ever place his foot on a gun carriage due to the recoil - it's a sure way to break a leg - yet Guy Kibbe (the gunner) does it a couple of times.
- Revealing mistakes: When Arabella Bishop is on the ship returning from England, she sees another ship in the distance, but the shot of the other ship was taken from land, not from the ocean, since we see waves starting to break in the near foreground of the shot.
- Anachronisms: During the final battle, Captain Blood's ship hoists a Union Jack flag, not in use until after the Act of Union in 1701. The scene takes place in 1689 (shortly after William III and Mary II take the throne). The correct flag should be the Cross of St. George (red cross on white background).
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Goofs below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- Revealing mistakes: SPOILER: The Spanish rowboat shot is clearly rigged (cut) to split into two pieces during the cannon ball attack.
Related Links
