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    The China Syndrome

    • 19791979
    • PGPG
    • 2h 2min
    IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    28K
    YOUR RATING
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    The China Syndrome (1979)
    Official Trailer
    Trailer2:03
    2 Videos
    99+ Photos
    DramaThriller

    A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant.

    • Director
      • James Bridges
    • Writers
      • Mike Gray
      • T.S. Cook
      • James Bridges
    • Stars
      • Jane Fonda
      • Jack Lemmon
      • Michael Douglas
    Top credits
    • Director
      • James Bridges
    • Writers
      • Mike Gray
      • T.S. Cook
      • James Bridges
    • Stars
      • Jane Fonda
      • Jack Lemmon
      • Michael Douglas
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 128User reviews
    • 84Critic reviews
    • 81Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 4 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 16 nominations total

    Videos2

    The China Syndrome
    Trailer 2:03
    The China Syndrome
    After Devastation of "Chernobyl," What to Watch Next
    Clip 3:54
    After Devastation of "Chernobyl," What to Watch Next

    Photos122

    Michael Douglas in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Daniel Valdez in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome (1979)
    Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda in The China Syndrome (1979)
    From left to right: Nick Pellegrino; Jack Lemmon; Martin Fiscoe; Wilford Brimley; Ron Lombard celebrating Jack Lemmon's birthday on THE CHINA SYDROME set.
    The China Syndrome (1979)
    The China Syndrome (1979)
    The China Syndrome (1979)
    Michael Douglas, Jane Fonda, and Jack Lemmon in The China Syndrome (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jane Fonda
    Jane Fonda
    • Kimberly Wellsas Kimberly Wells
    Jack Lemmon
    Jack Lemmon
    • Jack Godellas Jack Godell
    Michael Douglas
    Michael Douglas
    • Richard Adamsas Richard Adams
    Scott Brady
    Scott Brady
    • Herman De Youngas Herman De Young
    James Hampton
    James Hampton
    • Bill Gibsonas Bill Gibson
    Peter Donat
    Peter Donat
    • Don Jacovichas Don Jacovich
    Wilford Brimley
    Wilford Brimley
    • Ted Spindleras Ted Spindler
    Richard Herd
    Richard Herd
    • Evan McCormackas Evan McCormack
    Daniel Valdez
    Daniel Valdez
    • Hector Salasas Hector Salas
    Stan Bohrman
    Stan Bohrman
    • Pete Martinas Pete Martin
    James Karen
    James Karen
    • Mac Churchillas Mac Churchill
    Michael Alaimo
    • Greg Minoras Greg Minor
    Donald Hotton
    Donald Hotton
    • Dr. Lowellas Dr. Lowell
    Khalilah 'Belinda' Ali
    Khalilah 'Belinda' Ali
    • Margeas Marge
    • (as Khalilah Ali)
    Paul Larson
    • D.B. Royceas D.B. Royce
    Ron Lombard
    • Barneyas Barney
    Tom Eure
    • Tommyas Tommy
    Nick Pellegrino
    Nick Pellegrino
    • Bordenas Borden
    • Director
      • James Bridges
    • Writers
      • Mike Gray
      • T.S. Cook
      • James Bridges
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    While doing a series of reports on alternative energy sources, a reporter, Kimberly Wells, witnesses an accident at a nuclear power plant. Wells is determined to report the incident but soon finds herself entangled in a sinister conspiracy to keep the full impact of the incident a secret. —Dave Jenkins <david.jenkins@smallworld.co.uk>
    power plantradiationnuclear powerreportercover up448 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Today, only a handful of people know what it means... Soon you will know.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When the film was first released on 16 March 1979, nuclear power executives soon lambasted the picture as being "sheer fiction" and a "character assassination of an entire industry". Then twelve days after its launch, the Three Mile Island nuclear accident occurred near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
    • Goofs
      In the United States, there are two main types of commercial power reactors: PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) and BWR (Boiling Water Reactor). In the scene where Gibson is explaining the basic workings of the plant to Kimberly Wells, the diagram on the board shows the former type, PWR. This is shown by the two loop system in which the water is pumped through the reactor under high pressure to prevent boiling, and then through a steam generator, or boiler, to create steam for the turbine using clean secondary water. In subsequent scenes, the dialog of the characters in the control room seems to suggest that they are dealing with a BWR system, where water is allowed to boil in the reactor vessel and steam is directly piped to the turbine, with no steam generator. Godell is concerned by the high water level in the reactor reaching the steam lines, of which there are none on a PWR reactor vessel. Once Goddell and the operators realize the water level is low, character dialogue references Auxilary Feedwater which is a PWR system. As well, in the action hearing later, the investigator talks about how the operators began cutting off feedwater and releasing steam in order to lower the reactor water level, which would only happen on a BWR.
    • Quotes

      Jack Godell: What makes you think they're looking for a scapegoat?

      Ted Spindler: Tradition.

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits run in total silence.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Making of 'The China Syndrome' (1979)
    • Soundtracks
      Somewhere In Between
      by Stephen Bishop

    User reviews128

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    I may be wrong, but I'd say you're lucky to be alive.
    Ripped from today's headlines! An explosion at a nuclear power plant on Japan's devastated coast made leaking radiation — or even outright meltdown — the central threat menacing a nation just beginning to grasp the scale of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.

    A crew from a local TV station was present when an accident occurred at a nuclear power plant, and the core cam dangerously close to being exposed. Like Japan, this accident was caused by an earthquake. The TV station is trying to hide the story, but the cameraman (Michael Douglas) shows the film he surreptitiously took to experts. Wanting to get out of reporting fluff, Jane Fonda follows up to get the plant expert (Jack Lemmon) to talk.

    Fonda is magnificent in this film, and Lemmon shows a whole range of emotion during the accident, and afterward as a man who wants to tell the truth even if it hurts his company.

    When a company stands to lose a billion dollar investment, you can be sure that there will be an attempt to murder someone (Daniel Valdez) to keep things quiet.

    Lemmon and Fonda were both nominated for Oscars, and probably should have gotten them.

    Things depicted in the story have actually occurred in the past (before this film), and it was fascinating to see the reactions of the characters. The writers did a magnificent job, and were also nominated for an Oscar.
    helpful•14
    2
    • lastliberal-853-253708
    • Mar 12, 2011

    FAQ11

    • What is 'The China Syndrome' about?
    • Is 'The China Syndrome' based on a book?
    • What is the China Syndrome?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 16, 1979 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Misuse Of Power
    • Filming locations
      • Sewage Disposal Plant, El Segundo, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • IPC Films
      • Major Studio Partners
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $51,718,367
    • Gross worldwide
      • $51,718,367
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 2min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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