Actor Kyle Secor, as Bertram Cates, wears glasses of which the frames are historically incorrect. In the 1930s, the frames would be metal. Additionally, the handles of the frames would curl and hook around each ear instead of the modern-day version which only slightly hooks around the back of the ear. While the "Ful-Vue' shape of the lenses is correct, 1930s glasses did not have the nose bridge comfort pads of modern-day glasses. And while tortoiseshell frames were just beginning to come into style, it is doubtful that a young man during the Great Depression would be able to afford tortoiseshell frames on a teacher's salary and would opt for the gold metal frames which were more popular and readily available. In this film, Secor wears modern frames that appear to be tortoiseshell with modern-day handles.
Kyle Secor's (Bertram Cates) hairstyle throughout this film is factually incorrect. His hair is biased cut and obviously styled with hair products to make it appear to have more volume. In the 1930s, men, especially school teachers, would have worn a pomade or Macassar oil to shape it flat to the scalp and combed back.
In several courtroom scenes when the focus is on Bertram Cates, the actor, Kyle Secor, wears glasses in which you can see the reflection of the production lights as well as white flags used by the production staff to mute the lights. In the 1930s, courtrooms would have utilized electric lights with a milk glass lamp shade known as a "schoolhouse light".