China Syndrome (The)

Genre: disaster drama

With: 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)

Director: James Bridges

Screenplay: Mike Gray, T.S. Cook and James Bridges

Release: 1979

Studio: Columbia Pictures Corporation, IPC Films, Major Studio Partners

Rating: PG

MBiS score: 8.5/10

 

 

What They Won’t Tell You  

 

QuickView

Story-line: while doing a remote at the Ventana nuclear power plant, a TV reporter who is considered mere filler by her colleagues observes an incident that may have compromised public safety and the plant’s operations.  

Pluses: marquee performances by Jane Fonda (a bright and assertive Kimberly), Jack Lemmon (the increasingly conflicted Godell) and Michael Douglas, excellent support from well-known thespians, a methodical screenplay that leads to a suspenseful final act, dynamic direction that develops bracing (almost painful) tension, convincing production values (the power plant sets especially) and fine cinematography.

Minuses: viewers beware… this chilling film is not for the fainthearted.

Comments: although nuclear energy is generally viewed as a safe source of electricity, the events depicted in THE CHINA SYNDROME are certainly possible − as evidenced by the Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011) incidents. And you don’t need much to trigger a catastrophe; it only takes a miscalculation, neglect, greed or misguided loyalties (or any combination of those factors) to endanger whole communities. Remember our goal as movie buffs: we don’t seek to see everything out there… we focus on films that matter. THE CHINA SYNDROME, with its mighty drama, social import and star power, is clearly one of them.    

 

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