Review #368: 'The China Syndrome' (1979)

After the Watergate scandal had been uncovered by two Washington Post journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and was published as All the President's Men (which itself was adapted into the award winning film, excellently directed by Alan J. Pakula), investigative journalism, and particularly in the reporting of institutionalised conspiracy, became incredibly "hip" - the new rock and roll stars. This character trait was even evident in 1978's Superman, with the tempestuous (actually incredibly annoying) Lois Lane. This level of journalism and conspiracy are the basis for the "environmental" machinations of a nuclear power plant, recently installed in California.

After a visit to the plant, television news anchor, Kimberley Walsh (Jane Fonda), begins to unravel a cover-up concerning the construction and safety. Along with camera man Richard Adams (Michael Douglas - who also produced), and eventually a concerned employee of the plant, Jack Godell (Jack Lemmon), they begin to come closer to the truth, with the standard conspiracy movie "villains" attempting to stop the damning information being made public.

The China Syndrome's title refers to a nuclear process, which proposes that if the reactor were to be opened (in the plants construction, there were many corners cut to save in expenses), and a pipe fails, the nuclear reaction could potentially pass through the earth to China. It's not a bad movie at all, not the best of these '70's conspiracy films, but there are some solid performances, particularly from Jack Lemmon. There are multiple scenes within the control desk of the nuclear base, which at times become rather tedious, due to a lot of exposition concerning the working of the reactor. Still, worth a watch.


Directed by: James Bridges
Starring: Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas
Country: USA

Rating: ***

Marc Ivamy