IMDb > The China Syndrome (1979)
The China Syndrome
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The China Syndrome (1979) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) Videos (see all 3)
The China Syndrome (1979) -- A modern nightmare nearly becomes reality in this timely, tension-filled story about an incident at a nuclear power plant. Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon star.
The China Syndrome (1979) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   9,414 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 25% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Mike Gray (written by) &
T.S. Cook (written by) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The China Syndrome on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 March 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Today, only a handful of people know what it means... Soon you will know.
Plot:
A reporter finds what appears to be a cover-up of safety hazards at a nuclear power plant. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
DGA Board Member Kim Kurumada Dies
 (From The Wrap. 22 November 2009, 1:49 PM, PST)

Movie Maverick Melnick Dead At 77
 (From WENN. 15 October 2009, 12:16 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
What can really be said? more (73 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Le syndrome chinois (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
A Síndrome da China (Brazil) [pt]
China Syndrome (Japan: English title) [en]
Chinski syndrom (Poland) [pl]
Dünyanin kaderi (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Das China-Syndrom (West Germany) [de]
El síndrome de China (Spain) [es]
Ha-Syndrome Ha-Sini (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Kína szindróma (Hungary) [hu]
Kiina-ilmiö (Finland) [fi]
Kina-syndromet (Sweden) [sv]
Kina-syndromet (Denmark) [da]
O Síndroma da China (Portugal) [pt]
Síndrome da China (Brazil) [pt]
Sindrome cinese (Italy) [it]
To syndromo tis Kinas (Greece) [el]
more
Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Richard Dreyfuss was originally cast as the cameraman but pulled out shortly before filming was to start and Michael Douglas, who also produced the film, was replaced in the role instead. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Hector's car is forced over the cliff you can see that the gas tank has been removed when his car stops tumbling. more
Quotes:
Evan Mc Cormack: ...and let this lunatic wipe out a billion dollar investment? At least this buys time; it will take the press an hour to get here.
Bill Gibson: I wouldn't count on it.
Evan Mc Cormack: I'm counting on you to take care of the God damn press. Now you do your Job, and let me do mine.
Bill Gibson: Yes sir.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Men in Black II (2002) more
Soundtrack:
Somewhere in Between more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Which came first... "China Syndrome" or the meltdown at Three Mile Island?
Is this movie based on a novel?
more
35 out of 39 people found the following comment useful.
What can really be said?, 21 January 2003
10/10
Author: Joshua Hill (joshhill@hot.rr.com) from Waco, Texas

I normally don't comment on movies on IMDB, but in this case I feel like I should. I love movies, and I want to make them, and this movie is a perfect example of fine filmmaking.

This is one of the few movies that I have seen on the small screen (originally seeing it air on AMC, I believe, and then on the DVD I just watched) that made me get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. That little gnawing sensation that the director would hope you feel while watching his thriller.

Jack Lemmon's performance is a fine one, and Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas follow. I felt so much empathy of Lemmon, who's character Jack Godell, only wanted people to listen to his warning.

But what impresses me most about this film is the lack of a score, and this is also what makes it beautiful to me. Apart from the opening titles there are no background music to increase the tension, because none is needed. And while the credits run, white on black, in silence it drives the point home.

I use the movie as an example to anyone who says music makes the movie. I think the movie should make the movie and the music should only amplify that. But for The China Syndrome music is not necessary to get across the realism and the urgency depicted here. The characters portray all of this far better than the music ever could.

I highly recommend this movie, it is one of my favorites. If you like movies, you won't be disappointed. If you like movie soundtracks more, you might not want to give this one a go.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (73 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The China Syndrome (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ironic reference to Pennsylvania rricci
Far Fetched Crap AsHimself
FAQ's bill-2261
Michael Small's unused music is now available! fawvincent
Any Other Nukes Seen This Movie? tspencer227
Nuclear safety Rammu
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