China Syndrome (1979)

Director: James Bridges  Starring: Jane Fonda  Jack Lemmon  
Currently Unavailable: This item is currently unavailable from the Manufacturer.
Format: DVD
Also Available: DVD Special Edition $8.99 
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Product Summary
Publisher: Columbia Tri-Star
Format: DVD
UPC: 00043396015999
Buy.com Sku: 40114264
Item#: V7LMQL
Category Keywords: Disaster  Essential Cinema  Nuclear Destruction  Recommended  Reporters  Suspense  Theatrical Release  Thriller 
Rating: 
 
 
Features: DVD, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 1.85:1, Dolby Digital Stereo, Mono Audio, English, Korean, Subtitled, Spanish
 
A modern nightmare nearly becomes reality in this tension-filled story about an "incident" at a nuclear power plant. Jane Fonda stars as Kimberly Wells, an ambitious TV reporter covering a story on energy sources, who is present at the nuclear plant when a startling accident occurs that nearly causes the meltdown of the reactor. A newsreel cameraman accompanying Wells (Michael Douglas) captures the incident on film Ñ but the television station won't air the footage. Though the plant's corporate heads are quick to deny the possibility of any real danger, Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon), the plant's veteran engineer, discovers faulty equipment at the plant. Attempting to tell others about his findings, an attempt is made on his life. In desperation, he forcibly takes control of the power plant and invites the media to hear his testimony. But the corporation is determined to stop him in a taut and shocking climax!
 


Editor's Note

A modern nightmare nearly becomes reality in this timely, tension-filled story about an "incident" at a nuclear power plant. Jane Fonda stars as Kimberly Wells, an ambitious TV reporter covering a story on energy sources who is present at a nuclear plant when a startling accident occurs that nearly causes the meltdown of the reactor. A newsreel cameraman accompanying Wells, played by a determined Michael Douglas, captures the incident on film--but the television station won't air the footage. Though the plant's corporate heads are quick to deny the possibility of any real danger, Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon), the plant's veteran engineer, discovers faulty equipment at the plant. Attempting to tell others about his findings, Jack soon realizes that someone is trying to kill him to keep him quiet, leading him to an act of utter desperation. The film is a marvel to behold--at turns gripping, stirring, exhilarating, and maddening, with fabulous performances, especially by Lemmon, who is simply marvelous. In a bizarre bit of synchronicity, the film was produced just before the March 1979 accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania.


Plot Summary

In this socially conscious thriller, an ambitious female newscaster and her cameraman, a former 1960s radical with a penchant for conspiracy theories, witness and capture on film a potentially disastrous nuclear accident. Joining forces with a concerned engineer at the plant where the near-meltdown occurred, the reporter and the cameraman attempt to expose the subsequent cover-up.

 
Features
Taletographies
Filmographies
Theatrical Trailer
Spanish Dolby Mono
English Version
Spanish Version
Korean Subtitles
Spanish Subtitles
English Dolby Mono
Chinese-Traditional Subtitles
Portugese Subtitles
English Subtitles
Widescreen Version
Standard Version
Thai Subtitles
 
Technical Info

Release Information
Studio: Columbia Tri-Star
Release Date: 5/25/1999
Running Time: 122 minutes
Original Release Date: 1979
Catalog ID: 01599
UPC: 00043396015999
Number of Discs: 1

Audio & Video
Original Language: English
Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English
Video: Color

Aspect Ratio
1.85:1/4:3

 
Cast & Crew
James Hampton
Jane Fonda
Michael Douglas
Jack Lemmon
Peter Donat
Scott Brady
James Bridges - Director
T.S. Cook - Screenplay
Mike Gray - Screenplay

 
Awards

Oscar (1980)
   Jack Lemmon, Nominee, Best Actor
   Jane Fonda, Nominee, Best Actress
   George Jenkins, Arthur Jeph Parker, Nominee, Best Art Direction - Set Decoration
   James Bridges, T.S. Cook, Mike Gray, Nominee, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly For The Screen

Cannes (1980)
Jack Lemmon, Winner, Best Actor

Golden Globe (1980)
   James Bridges, Nominee, Best Director - Motion Picture
   Jack Lemmon, Nominee, Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
   Jane Fonda, Nominee, Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama
   James Bridges, T.S. Cook, Mike Gray, Nominee, Best Screenplay - Motion Picture

 
Professional Reviews
Variety
"...[A] compelling thriller about the perils of nuclear energy....Superior performances by Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas..." 03/07/1979

New York Times
"...Smashingly effective....[Fonda] keeps getting better and better." 03/16/1979 p.C16

  
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Customer Reviews
Cinematography 5
Plot 5
Acting 5
Overall Satisfaction 5
Write a Review


 
5 of 5 Great Movie Saturday, December 04, 1999
mmantica from Miami, Florida  

This is a very intense and suspenful movie. Performances by Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda are wonderful. The plot is really ahead of its time and really true right now. Great movie, highly recommend it.
 
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