3:54 | Clip
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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Edit
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:
Today, only a handful of people know what it means... 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
Budget:
$6,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$51,718,367Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$51,718,367Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Metrocolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Kimberly Wells: Mr. Godell, you lied to me last night. We're not going to leave here until you tell us what happened at the plant.
Jack Godell: So some anti-nuclear nut tells you we almost uncovered the core? But we didn't uncover it, did we? We stopped it in time for one simple reason and I told you that! The system works, goddamn it! The system works! That's not the problem!
[he turns away]
Richard Adams: If that's not the problem, then what the hell is?
Jack Godell: [...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Star Jack Lemmon said of this film: "I signed on for 'The China Syndrome' and then waited over a year for filming to begin. Not only did I get a marvelous role but I had the satisfaction of being part of a film project that deals with a very dramatic subject, and it makes for a very dramatic movie." See more »Goofs
Michael Douglas's cameraman more than once supposedly films something - including the footage of the reactor control room - without having a battery pack connected to the camera. The camera simply wouldn't work without it. He also frequently uses the light meter incorrectly - the white dome has to be pointed towards the light source you are measuring. See more »Quotes
Richard Adams: I showed the film to a nuclear engineer. You almost uncovered the core, Mr. Godell.Kimberly Wells: Mr. Godell, you lied to me last night. We're not going to leave here until you tell us what happened at the plant.
Jack Godell: So some anti-nuclear nut tells you we almost uncovered the core? But we didn't uncover it, did we? We stopped it in time for one simple reason and I told you that! The system works, goddamn it! The system works! That's not the problem!
[he turns away]
Richard Adams: If that's not the problem, then what the hell is?
Jack Godell: [...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
The end credits run in total silence. See more »Contribute to This Page
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Wow. Not sure why this thriller has so few rating in IMDb. (Actually not so unusual for any non-blockbusters from this era) Almost every aspect of the film is rock solid: setting script, acting, story-line, and the issue is still relevant 35 years later. The characters and scenes in the studio and nuclear power plant are totally believable. There no superfluous scenes at all, no added sex scenes, no smart alack comedy or in-your face scenes. Jack Lemmon in my opinion is also very underrated and gives a great performance as Jack Godell, and Jane Fonda and Michael Douglass are very good in their respective roles. I had not realized that Michael Douglass produced this film, along with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest four years earlier when he was barely 30 years old. Though some of the costuming and settings obviously reflect the era of the film, it does not feel dated at all. The China Syndrome holds it's own with the other more well-known films of it's day and probably surpasses in quality, the majority current releases put out by Hollywood.