Goofs

At the end of the clarinet concerto, the first violinist stands up twice.

A radio announcer describes "Stompin' At The Savoy" as a "brand-new Fletcher Henderson arrangement". It was, in fact, an Edgar Sampson composition and arrangement adapted for Benny Goodman's band by Sampson with the permission of Sampson's employer, bandleader Chick Webb.

Trumpeter Buck Clayton never appeared with Goodman's 1937 band; he was a mainstay of Count Basie's. Clayton did, however, perform as a guest artist with Basie and fellow band members Lester Young, Freddie Green and Walter Page at Goodman's legendary 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.

When Goodman is asked the title for the opening number of the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert, he gives "Don't Be That Way", as though it had been composed and arranged, but not yet named. In fact, Edgar Sampson had composed it, and his arrangement had been recorded in 1934 by Chick Webb, and was included in the programme by Goodman as homage to Sampson and Webb.

At one time Mama Goodman mentions the Queen of England. In 1956, when the movie was made, Queen Elizabeth had been queen for 4 years. However, assuming the scene took place in the 1930s, there would have been a king on the throne (George V or George VI).

When Benny took lessons at Hull House, his instructor was the director, James Sylvester, not Professor Schoepp. Schoepp was his instructor later in his life.

Newspaper article shown that gives Benny Goodman the idea to audition has a typo - "a large baking account" instead of "banking account." This is probably accurate since the company that sponsored the "Let's Dance" show made biscuits.

When Benny is 16 and sitting and playing on the roof of his apartment house, the "buildings" in the background have lights in certain windows. Years later when he is again in the same place, the same lights in the same windows are shown.

During the whole picture, 'Donna Reed' appears wearing clothes of the 1955 fashion, instead the thirties and forties corresponding at the times the action was taking place.

Benny Goodman is shown playing the Gordon Jenkins standard "Goodbye" after he learns of his father's death. Goodman's father died in 1926, but Jenkins did not compose "Goodbye" until 1935. Goodman used "Goodbye" as the sign-off tune for the "Let's Dance" radio program and live performances.