Goofs for
Cadillac Records (2008) More at IMDbPro »

• Revealing mistakes: When Leonard Chess drives away from the studio for the last time, he looks into the rear-view mirror. The Chess sign, which should be reversed, is not.
  
  
• Anachronisms: The opening scenes, set in 1941-47, include many cars from 1953-56.
  
  
• Anachronisms: Several guitars in the studio are much later models than would have been available at the time. A Gibson ES-335, introduced in 1958, is clearly visible in one scene set in 1955. A Gibson ES-175 in the same scene (and some set earlier) has humbucking pickups, which were introduced in 1957.
  
  

• Anachronisms: In one of the "stock" black and white shots of 45's in a records store, part of the logo for the Electric Light Orchestra can be seen at the bottom right.
  
  
• Anachronisms: In the film, Leonard Chess opens Chess Studios in 1954 or 1955. It actually opened in 1957. Before that, Chess recorded exclusively at Universal Recording.
  
  
• Anachronisms: Alan Freed introduces "Surfin' USA." The song came out in 1963, when Freed was out of the radio business.
  
  
• Anachronisms: Everyone at Chess Records drives a '57 Cadillac, in 1955.
  
  
• Anachronisms: When Chuck Berry enters the picture in the mid 1950s, most of his songs that you hear are from 1964 ("No Particular Place", "Nadine", "Promised Land", etc).
  
  
• Anachronisms: In the film, Leonard Chess dies, then Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon go to Europe to perform in 1967. Leonard Chess died October 16, 1969.
  
  
• Anachronisms: In one of the "stock" black and white shots of 45s in a records store, one record to the right has the Star Wars Theme.
  
  
• Factual errors: Etta James is portrayed as never having recorded before she signed with Chess, but an earlier insert shot showing a Chess record moving up the charts includes her hit "Wallflower," recorded for Modern Records in 1955, five years before she started recording for Chess.
  
  
• Factual errors: Little Walter died in his girlfriends home, not at Muddy Waters home, and not in the arms of Muddy's wife.
  
  
• Revealing mistakes: When the animated sequence shows "Maybelline" breaking into the pop charts and climbing up to number 5, the number 4 hit "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" is misspelled "Spendored".
  
  
• Anachronisms: A 45 rpm record insert known as a 'spider' is shown as a part of the Chess Records sign hanging in front of the studio. The 'spider' was introduced in the 1960's, years after Chess Records opened in 1950.
  
  
• Revealing mistakes: When Muddy Waters crosses the hands of dead Little Walter, Walter's thumb moves slightly.
  
  
• Anachronisms: The 45 RPM record was not widely used very much during the time the film was to take place. 78 RPM records were the state of the ART of music listening at home and on Radio until about the late 50's. When "Chess" Records started, they were pressing mostly 78's which were no where to be seen any place in the film.
  
  

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