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 | ... | Kimberly Wells | |
| Jack Lemmon | ... | Jack Godell | |
| Michael Douglas | ... | Richard Adams | |
| Scott Brady | ... | Herman De Young | |
| James Hampton | ... | Bill Gibson | |
| Peter Donat | ... | Don Jacovich | |
| Wilford Brimley | ... | Ted Spindler | |
| Richard Herd | ... | Evan McCormack | |
 |
Daniel Valdez | ... | Hector Salas |
|
|
Stan Bohrman | ... | Pete Martin |
| James Karen | ... | Mac Churchill | |
|
|
Michael Alaimo | ... | Greg Minor |
| Donald Hotton | ... | Dr. Lowell | |
|
|
Khalilah Ali | ... | Marge |
|
|
Paul Larson | ... | D.B. Royce |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
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 on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
16 March 1979 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Misuse Of Power See more »Filming Locations:
Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Gross USA:
$51,718,367Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Don Jacovich: I'm sure. Hothead award, Foulmouth award, Can-of-worms award...
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
To prepare for his role as a TV cameraman, actor Michael Douglas did the news rounds with various television photographers one of whom was Bob Brown who later died in the Jonestown Massacre in Guyana. See more »Goofs
Throughout the film, Michael Douglas makes the mistake of pronouncing the word "nuclear" as the incorrect "noo-kyoo-ler". (A mistake he also makes in The Game). See more »Quotes
Kimberly Wells: [defending her cameraman] He's good, I think he's good. He's won a lot of awards.Don Jacovich: I'm sure. Hothead award, Foulmouth award, Can-of-worms award...
See more »
Crazy Credits
The end credits run in total silence. See more »Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil/The Sweet Hereafter/John Grisham's the Rainmaker/Deep Crimson (1997) See more »Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
Why is the plant gradually being brought back up to full power? Why not just start it out at 100%?
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I thoroughly enjoyed this film when it was first released, and on each occasion I've seen it since. The political drama is effective, if not especially new or inspired. The decades since the release of the film have demonstrated that the willingness to cut costs at the expense of public safety is definitely not just something imagined by a screenwriter.
However, I think the most impressive element of this film is Jack Lemmon's performance. It is absolutely astonishing to watch him at work. He has the gift to be able to communicate so much, at times without saying a word. Next time you watch this film, check out Jack's face at the times he is not saying anything. He does not need to speak (or worse yet, to mug) to let you know what's going through his mind.
I am calling this a spoiler, because of the impression it made on me when I first saw the film: in Lemmon's last scene in the film, as he is lying on the floor, he feels a slight vibration. The terror in his eyes is one of the most frightening images I have seen in any film. It is perfect acting, because it conveys instantly the threat about to occur--if Jack's character is so terrified, there is certainly something awful about to happen. And it does.