Cinema Paradiso goofs

During one sequence, excerpts from the film And Woman... Was Created (1956) appear on screen. A few sequences later, Salvatore is seen crossing off a calendar dated 1954. "And God Created Woman" was released in 1956.

When the print is borrowed from a neighbouring theatre, it’s clear the projector is positioned in the balcony rather than in an enclosed projection room. Moreover, the projector is fitted with a "magnetic penthouse" sound pickup — an attachment used to play early stereophonic prints. This technique was not invented until 1953 and did not come into widespread use until several years after nitrate film had been phased out.

After several boys are shown admiring an image of the curvaceous Rita Hayworth that appears to be a newly issued publicity still for Gilda (1946), the song "Bewitched, Bothered, And Bewildered" can be heard, performed by Jo Ann Greer, who provided Hayworth's dubbing, yet this recording actually originates from Pal Joey (1957), a film that would not be released for another ten years.

As a child and throughout his teenage years, Toto's eyes are dark brown; however, as an adult they take on a bluish-grey tint during lightning flashes.

The heights of Toto and his mother alter markedly over the course of their adulthood. Jacques Perrin is considerably taller than Marco Leonardi, while Pupella Maggio is noticeably shorter than Antonella Attili. As a child and teenager, Toto is clearly below average height. By middle age he is the tallest man at Alfredo's funeral, standing a clear head above the others.

Before the theatre is demolished, barricades are visible in the car park. The camera pulls back to reveal the onlookers standing well back at a safe distance. When the explosives detonate, two firefighters suddenly appear, standing just behind the barricades.

When Toto rushes to save Alfredo from the blaze he falls onto his front, but in the next shot he is shown on his back.

When Toto is caught by his mother outside the theatre, the man who takes a tin of tobacco from his left trouser pocket is seen to put his right hand into his right pocket first.

While Toto is serving in the Italian army, he sports a close-cropped military haircut. After he is demobilised and returns home, his hair is suddenly long again. That's because he spent a year in the forces — more than enough time for his hair to grow back.