[KGBnut]

I think if you watched some old silent movies you might see some spark adjustments or choke. I know that you would see hand cranking, but mostly for comic effect. By the '30s and '40s automatic spark advance and automatic choke were available and these actors may not have driven the old style in a long time. Any modern period-piece would certainly get it wrong, unless the actor had a personal interest in antiques.

Lastly, filmakers are interested in telling a story, not in getting technical details correct on a car...or anything else for that matter.

I remember watching The Waltons with my father. At some point they got a Model A and painted it white. It always made Pop crazy that they drove it everywhere with the spark fully retarded.