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The China Syndrome (1979) 7.3
A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant. Director:James Bridges |
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Title: The China Syndrome (1979)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Jane Fonda | ... | ||
| Jack Lemmon | ... | ||
| Michael Douglas | ... | ||
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Scott Brady | ... | |
| James Hampton | ... | ||
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Peter Donat | ... | |
| Wilford Brimley | ... | ||
| Richard Herd | ... |
Evan McCormack
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Daniel Valdez | ... | |
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Stan Bohrman | ... | |
| James Karen | ... |
Mac Churchill
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Michael Alaimo | ... | |
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Donald Hotton | ... |
Dr. Lowell
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Khalilah Ali | ... |
Marge
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Paul Larson | ... |
D.B. Royce
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, an opportunistic reporter Kimberly Wells witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to publicise the incident but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret. Written by Dave Jenkins <david.jenkins@smallworld.co.uk>
Taglines:
People who know the meaning of "The China Syndrome" are scared. Soon _you_ will know. See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 March 1979 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El sÃndrome de China See more »Box Office
Gross:
SEK 8,390,477 (Sweden)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Bill Gibson: I wouldn't count on it.
Evan Mc Cormack: I'm counting on you to take care of the God damn press. Now you do your Job, and let me do mine.
Bill Gibson: Yes sir.
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film's writer Mike Gray was originally scheduled to direct after his documentary The Murder of Fred Hampton had been successful but the Columbia Pictures' executives rejected Gray as he was an untried commodity and as such Gray was replaced with James Bridges. See more »Goofs
Jack's shirt displays a bullet hole a beat or two before you actually hear a gunshot at the very end. See more »Quotes
Evan Mc Cormack: ...and let this lunatic wipe out a billion dollar investment? At least this buys time; it will take the press an hour to get here.Bill Gibson: I wouldn't count on it.
Evan Mc Cormack: I'm counting on you to take care of the God damn press. Now you do your Job, and let me do mine.
Bill Gibson: Yes sir.
See more »
I normally don't comment on movies on IMDB, but in this case I feel like I should. I love movies, and I want to make them, and this movie is a perfect example of fine filmmaking.
This is one of the few movies that I have seen on the small screen (originally seeing it air on AMC, I believe, and then on the DVD I just watched) that made me get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. That little gnawing sensation that the director would hope you feel while watching his thriller.
Jack Lemmon's performance is a fine one, and Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas follow. I felt so much empathy of Lemmon, who's character Jack Godell, only wanted people to listen to his warning.
But what impresses me most about this film is the lack of a score, and this is also what makes it beautiful to me. Apart from the opening titles there are no background music to increase the tension, because none is needed. And while the credits run, white on black, in silence it drives the point home.
I use the movie as an example to anyone who says music makes the movie. I think the movie should make the movie and the music should only amplify that. But for The China Syndrome music is not necessary to get across the realism and the urgency depicted here. The characters portray all of this far better than the music ever could.
I highly recommend this movie, it is one of my favorites. If you like movies, you won't be disappointed. If you like movie soundtracks more, you might not want to give this one a go.