The Chain Reaction (1980)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Ian Barry

Writer:

Ian Barry (writer)

Release Date:

25 September 1980 (Australia)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

A fast drive to Paradise turns into a nuclear nightmare !

Plot:

An earthquake in rural Australia causes a dangerous leak at WALDO, a nuclear waste storage facility...

Plot Keywords:

Nuclear | Radiation | Disaster | Valley | Nuclear Accident

Awards:

7 nominations

Cast

Steve Bisley	...	Larry
Arna-Maria Winchester	...	Carmel
Ross Thompson	...	Heinrich
Ralph Cotterill	...	Gray
Hugh Keays-Byrne	...	Eagle
Lorna Lesley	...	Gloria
Richard Moir	...	Jr. Const. Pigott
Patrick Ward	...	Oates
Laurie Moran	...	Police Sgt. McSweeney
Michael Long	...	Doctor
Bill McCluskey	...	Ralph
Margo Lloyd	...	Molly
Tim Burns	...	Survey driver
Arthur Sherman	...	Byron Langley
Barry Donnelly	...	Gateman
P.J. Jones	...	Bernie the Beater
David Bracks	...	Spray painter
Joan Winchester	...	Marcia
Joshua Ward	...	Jason Stillson
Ryan McKibbon	...	Stephen Stillson
Kim Gyngell	...	Crabs
Roger Ward	...	Moose
Sal Sharah	...	Pellegrini
Frankie J. Holden	...	Farts
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mel Gibson	...	Bearded mechanic (uncredited)

Directed by
Ian Barry

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ian Barry		writer

Produced by
David Elfick	....	producer
Ross Matthews	....	associate producer
George Miller	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Andrew Thomas Wilson

Cinematography by
Russell Boyd

Film Editing by
Tim Wellburn

Casting by
Mitch Mathews

Art Direction by
Graham 'Grace' Walker		(as Graham Walker)

Costume Design by
Norma Moriceau

Makeup Department
Lesley Lamont-Fisher	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lynn Gailey	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
P.J. Jones	....	third assistant director
Chris Maudson	....	second assistant director
George Miller	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Sally Campbell	....	property buyer
Lissa Coote	....	assistant art director
Mick Diplock	....	carpenter
Bill Howe	....	construction manager
David Mackay	....	art department assistant
Philip Owens	....	art department assistant
John Scope	....	art department assistant
George Zammit	....	stand-by props (as George Zammitt)

Sound Department
Greg Bell	....	sound effects editor
Lloyd Carrick	....	sound recordist
Andy Duncan	....	additional sound (as Andrew Duncan)
Lindsay Frazer	....	dialogue editor
Jack Friedman	....	additional sound
Chris Goldsmith	....	boom operator
Phil Heywood	....	sound mixer
Phil Judd	....	additional sound
Phil Judd	....	sound mixer
Arne Ohlsson	....	sound effects editor
Lee Smith	....	additional sound
Tim Wellburn	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Reece Robinson	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ken Hoffman	....	optical effects

Stunts
Max Aspin	....	stunt coordinator
Max Aspin	....	stunts
David Bracks	....	stunts
Bob Hicks	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Ashbrook	....	additional photographer
Brian Bansgrove	....	gaffer
Colin Beard	....	still photographer
Nixon Binney	....	camera operator
David Brostoff	....	additional photographer
Lou Brown	....	additional photographer
Ray Brown	....	key grip
Steve Dobson	....	additional photographer
Tony Gailey	....	additional photographer
Paul Gantner	....	best boy
George Greenough	....	underwater photographer
Eugene Intas	....	assistant still photographer
Louis Irving	....	additional photographer
Peter Lipscombe	....	additional photographer
Laurie McInnes	....	assistant camera
Paul Moyes	....	electrician
Paul Murphy	....	additional photographer
Peter Rogers	....	additional photographer
Peter Rogers	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Camilla Rountree	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Vicky Ambrose	....	assistant editor
Jennifer Kretzschmar	....	assistant editor
Gordon Peck	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Spencer Lee	....	musical director
Andrew Thomas Wilson	....	musical director

Other crew
Penny Carl	....	production accountant
Louise Ferrier	....	unit runner
Mandy Forster	....	production secretary
Ray Fowler	....	caterer
Philip Hearnshaw	....	location manager
Lisa Hennessey	....	caterer
Spencer Lee	....	electronic realizator
Therese O'Leary	....	continuity
David Thomas	....	mechanic
David Trethewey	....	unit runner
Kathy Turbott	....	unit runner
Terry Lee	....	aerial helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Palm Beach Pictures

Distributors

• Sen Sei Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Australian Video
• Embassy Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• Embassy Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Hoyts Distribution
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (video)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Other Companies

• Optical & Graphics  titles
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• Spectrum Films International  post-production

Also Known As:

Nuclear Run

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 | Norway:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Glen Davis, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Palm Beach Pictures

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008)

A good Aussie thriller

I saw this movie at the Roxy Cinema,Parramatta, Sydney Australia in 1980. I thought the action stunts and story were good. Steve Bisley who played Goose in "Mad Max" in one of his early lead roles. Watch out for Mel Gibson in an unbilled role as a mechanic at the beginning of the film.