Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Continuity mistake: When Jack is peering through the magnifying glass at the chart, we see 'Hidden Reef' and 'Dangerous Shoals', but in the previous shot those two things are shown way to the left of where he is looking. (00:18:05)

Continuity mistake: When Stephen comes on deck during the rounding of Cape Horn, Jack yells to him from the quarterdeck. Jack has his boat cloak on. He does not put on his boat cloak for several shots later, just after he tells Bonden to steer SSW. (00:48:30)

Continuity mistake: The order is given to closereef the topsail. But moments earlier, you see seaman doing just that, working on the last reef.

Continuity mistake: When Stephen is pressed to examine the two weevils, in the close-ups facing Jack, even after he slams his hand down on the table, the spoon in the gravy boat leans to the side, yet, in the shots facing Stephen the spoon is at the handle. (00:34:50)

Super Grover

Revealing mistake: After the Captain cuts loose the man who fell overboard in the storm, there is a scene where the men sit around the big table and sing a song. During the song, the camera pans in a sweeping shot around the table. Watch closely as it comes around to the near side of the table, and you'll see the camera's view quickly jolt, as if it lightly smacked against something by accident during the filming.

Continuity mistake: Jack Aubrey's hair changes in consecutive shots throughout the film. For example, when Stephen tells Jack, "Let me take a look at that brow of yours," his hair differs in the following close-up. (00:16:40)

Super Grover

Continuity mistake: When Captain Aubrey's head is bleeding after being hit during the first battle with the Acheron, we see the wound just above his eye. However, when we see him next, the wound is farther down his hairline. (00:11:50)

Factual error: When performing the burials at sea after the final fight with the Acheron, the body on the plank is covered with the wrong ensign. The one shown is not the Union Jack created after the 1800 Act of Union. The correct ensign would be the flag of Great Britain, which does not have the saltire of St. Patrick (the diagonal red "X").

Continuity mistake: In the close-up of the deceased, Mr. Allen lies right beside Peter and Blakeney's knees are visible above Peter's head, while he mourns over Peter. However, in the wide shot as Blakeney still stares at Peter, Peter and Mr. Allen are now much farther apart as Davies sits between the two. Peter and the hammock's position differ in his next close-up as well. (01:59:30)

Super Grover

Continuity mistake: The blood stains on the front of Jack's shirt change drastically in the close-up, when he is stabbed, as compared to the previous and following shots. (01:57:15)

Super Grover

Capt. Jack Aubrey: This is the second time he's done this to me. There will not be a third.

More quotes from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Trivia: When Captain Aubrey makes the toast 'To wives and sweethearts - may they never meet' he is following a custom in the Royal Navy called the toast of the day. There was a special toast for every day of the week. This one in particular was usually for Saturdays. There is a minor mistake, however: tradition dictated that the proposer (in this case, the captain) would say the first part 'to wives and sweethearts', to which the most junior officer present would reply 'may they never meet'. Here is the list that seems to be most commonly followed dates from before Trafalgar, courtesy of the Canadian Navy website: Monday - our ships at sea, Tuesday - our men, Wednesday - ourselves, because no one else is likely to both, Thursday - a bloody war or a sickly season (to ensure quicker promotion), Friday - a willing foe and sea room (The two preceding seem to be of historical interest only), Saturday - wives and sweethearts - may they never meet (reply is made by the youngest officer present) Sunday - absent friends.

More trivia for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Question: Will someone explain to me navigation. I have never heard of "Sou Sou West" or "Sou East by East."

Answer: There are four major directions (North, South, East and West), four minor (North East, south east, south west and north west) and 16 sub directions. Among these are South South West and South east by East. South South West is between South West and South and South East by East is between south east and east.

SexyIrishLeprechaun

More questions & answers from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.