Quite a few listers seem to have been bent out of shape (got their knickers
in a knot?) about the anachronisms, musical and otherwise, in this movie.
Did they not get the point that it was a deliberate fantasy romp by the
amazingly gifted Tom Stoppard and his cowriter? To enjoy all the liberties
taken (and several have been recited on this thread) the viewer has to
bring some knowledge to the party -- for which he/she is amply rewarded
with one of the most delightful, literated and adult (in the sense of
appealing to grownups, not its [alas] present-day meaning of pornographic)
comedies to have graced the screen in some time.  In its way, it had as
much finesse as Billy Wilder or Ernst Lubitsch were able to conjure up in
the "good old days." I'm quite amazed that it managed to win all those
Academy Awards.  Maybe it will send a signal that an intelligent and fun
film can find a wide audience.  And let us pray that the sequels won't be
totally dumbing down.  For what it's worth, it's even funnier the second
time around, when you get to pick up all the anomalies that went by too
fast the first time.  Thank you, Tom Stoppard, for this lollipop.

Eric