Customer Reviews

The China Syndrome (Special Edition)

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Review of "The China Syndrome: Special Edition" DVD .............................

"The China Syndrome" first appeared in theaters around the USA on March 16, 1979. In an almost unbelievable coincidence, just twelve days later, on March 28th, the worst nuclear accident in United States history occurred at Three Mile Island near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The real-life incident at Three Mile Island was, in many ways, identical to the plot of the movie. An incorrect reading of equipment at Three Mile Island made the plant's operators THINK, in error, that there was more water covering the core of the power plant than there actually was -- just exactly what we see unfold on the screen in "The China Syndrome".

Another extremely eerie "coincidence" between the real event and the motion picture is a line of dialogue that was written for the film, and is one of the most chilling lines in the picture, where a nuclear expert is explaining that, if an explosion had occurred at the fictional "Ventana" nuclear facility, it could have "rendered an area the size of the state of Pennsylvania permanently uninhabitable". Rather remarkable that the filmmakers chose the state of "Pennsylvania" for their catastrophic "example" here, huh? When just days after debuting it would, indeed, be that exact state facing potential disaster.

"The China Syndrome", which grossed over 35.7 million dollars in U.S. theaters, is an outstanding drama starring Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas. The tense script keeps you on tenterhooks throughout the film, despite the lack of any musical score or background music of any kind. The only music in the whole film resides at the beginning (as the credits roll). The ending credits roll silently -- with only dead silence accompanying them (which is, quite possibly, even MORE powerful and effective here, given what we've just seen in the movie, than if a rousing musical theme were to have been utilized at the end of the film).

"The China Syndrome" was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actor (Lemmon) and Best Actress (Fonda). Neither of them won. Lemmon was bested by "Kramer vs. Kramer's" Dustin Hoffman; while Fonda was beaten by Sally Field ("Norma Rae").

I've always thought that this film should have not only been nominated for Best Picture of 1979, but it should have won that honor as well. But it was "Kramer vs. Kramer" that took the prize that year. A shame, too -- because I feel "The China Syndrome" was/is a far better film than "Kramer". But, hey, that's just my own view on the subject.

A fine companion video to this DVD is "Meltdown At Three Mile Island" (a 1999 documentary from PBS Home Video). After watching both the movie and that PBS documentary program, you'll notice even more correlation between the real-life Pennsylvania accident and the fictional film -- such as the amazing similarity in the look of the control room. The REAL Three Mile Island control room looks just exactly like the control room we see in the movie. The filmmakers obviously did a very good job when it came to replicating the details of a real nuclear power plant.

This single-disc DVD "Special Edition" was released by Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment on October 26, 2004, and comes complete with a great-looking Anamorphic Widescreen transfer, 5.1 Dolby Digital audio, plus some nice special features to boot.

Here's a rundown of the Bonus Features on this disc ...............................

>> Two excellent Laurent Bouzereau-produced documentaries on the making of the movie (lasting nearly one hour combined) -- "The China Syndrome: A Fusion Of Talent" (run time of 27:33) and "The China Syndrome: Creating A Controversy" (29:31).

New interviews with Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda (and some others) fill up these informative documentary supplements, with some really interesting behind-the-scenes tidbits being revealed during these two bonus programs. Plus some discussion of the relationship between the film and the Three Mile Island accident that closely followed, which made the film's popularity skyrocket.

One interesting hunk of trivia concerning star Jack Lemmon that came out in the "Fusion" featurette that I'd never realized is that Jack had apparently put some other movie roles "on hold" for well over a year in order to finally begin work on "The China Syndrome" (which started filming on January 16, 1978).

Another fun part of the "Controversy" documentary is a humorous outtake showing Jane Fonda trying to run while wearing those shoes with the seemingly mile-high heels (which we see her wearing in several scenes during the film). She had trouble running from one place to another in this outtake, and ultimately trips over her own feet while declaring "I'm like a cripple!" (LOL!)

An additional piece of info gleaned is regarding the music (or lack of) for the movie. There *was* originally a musical score written for the film. But Producer Michael Douglas, and others, quickly learned that the movie would be much better served by completely eliminating any music score -- and simply have the "real sounds" of the power-plant control room serve as the film's "music" (in a way). We hear the clicking of dials, the beeping of alarms, horns blaring their warnings, and the sounds of the computer's printer as it prints out the info the power-plant workers need. All of these "real" sounds took a back seat to the music, and it was soon discovered that the music "ruins the reality of the film" (a quote from one of this DVD's supplemental programs). Therefore, the filmmakers decided to take a chance and scrap the idea of any music in the picture. A wise move, too, IMHO.

These Making-Of features also could serve as a "Photo Gallery" of still images. Many behind-the-camera pics are shown throughout these well-put-together bonus programs.

The two mini-documentaries are shown in the Full-Frame aspect ratio (1.33:1), and feature English-only Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo sound and subtitles in Japanese only. (Why they chose only Japanese subtitling here, I have no idea.)

>> 3 "Deleted Scenes" (total time = 3:52). .... None of these short scenes adds much of anything to the story at hand. It's understandable why they were cut out. A "Play All" option is included here.

>> 3 Theatrical Trailers ("Previews"), but not one of them is for "The China Syndrome". This seems especially odd (and disappointing), because the previously-released DVD of this flick *does* include the film's trailer. But, instead, this "SE" disc offers up three trailers for other films: "The Fog Of War", "Fail-Safe", and "Secret Window". However, a portion of one of the original 1979 trailers for "The China Syndrome" is included in the "Creating A Controversy" documentary on this disc. But not the full trailer.

>> Text-only Filmographies for Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, and Jane Fonda --- and Director James Bridges.


Additional DVD data concerning "The China Syndrome: Special Edition":

Video -- Widescreen only (1.85:1 aspect ratio); enhanced for 16x9 televisions.

Available Audio Tracks -- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (English), and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (French).

Audio Commentary Tracks? -- No. .... Too bad too. Because a multi-person Commentary Track (with Jane Fonda, Michael Douglas, and writer Mike Gray) would have been quite interesting I have a feeling.

Subtitles -- English, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai.

Main Feature Running Time -- 122 minutes.

Number of Chapter Breaks -- 28.

Paper Enclosure? -- Yes, a one-sheet (two-sided) insert. But it does not contain a Chapter List. If you happen to have the older DVD edition of "The China Syndrome" (released in May of 1999), you can use that disc's 4-page booklet as a Chapter Guide for this newer "SE" version. Both DVDs have the scenes divided up in the same places throughout the movie (and the descriptive titles/blurbs for each chapter are identical on each disc). In addition to including a Chapter Listing, the older disc's mini-booklet insert also contains some informative Production Notes and backstory concerning the film.

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Parting Thoughts ........

"The China Syndrome" is one of my all-time favorite movies, and in my view one of the best thrillers/dramas in all of movie-making history. It has a mesmerizing storyline, great acting, a very good cast of starring and supporting characters, and a first-class, heart-pounding ending. I'd suggest reserving a slot on the shelf for this Special Edition DVD. Even if you already have the previous DVD edition of this movie, it's worth upgrading to the "SE" for the one-hour's worth of excellent bonus documentaries located on this newer version.

A funny thing about this excellent motion picture experience -- I must have watched this film 3 or 4 times before realizing that there was absolutely no music in it whatsoever! (Except for Stephen Bishop's "Somewhere In Between", played as the titles roll.) Now THAT, I believe, is a real tribute to the story and the acting in this film. It doesn't require ANY music. Jack Lemmon was never better than in this role as a scared-stiff nuclear power plant worker. He is simply riveting in this. --10 Stars!--

The China Syndrome is a great movie about a hypothetical accident at a nuclear power plant in California. An accident which is frighteningly close to what happened at Three Mile Island.

It is true that the movie is not all that concerned with accurately portraying the technical details of nuclear power plants. However, since the movie is not a 'How to Build Your Own Reactor Guide', who really cares about minor technical details.

What the movie does portray (and accurately) are the very real problems of having the same people who promote commercial nuclear power, in charge of plant security.

In reality the AEC did exactly that (a role now played by the NRC). The AEC were in charge of promoting commercial production of nuclear power while also being in charge of security at the plants. Talk about the classic case of the "mouse guarding the cheese".

Also, the scenes showing the futility of the antinuclear protests when faced with patronizing AEC-scientists are historically accurate. In fact, the concerns expressed in the movie about the lack of plans regarding nuclear waste disposal mirror concerns expressed by the antinuclear movement, and are in fact the very problems we are facing today.

All in all a good and thought provoking movie.

The idea of a potential nuclear meltdown is and always will be absolutely terrifying. That is the main reason this film has lost little of its impact. I first saw this film when I was a young teenager, and back then I took no notice of the depth of the acting or the political nuances strewn throughout the film. The acting is excellent all around, but the best performance comes once again from Jack Lemmon. It is truly mesmerizing to see him at the beginning of the film as a steadfast employee making excuses for the 'accident' that even he pretends to believe; and then his gradual decline through doubt, suspicion, fearful revelation, and absolute panic. His performance here is one of the best of the 1970s. However, the story and direction take on a "Liberal Hippies against The Man" feel frequently, the bad guys being heartless bureaucrats without families or moral character. In this story they are painted as scoundrels who care about nothing else other than the proverbial 'bottom line.' I certainly hope those in charge of nuclear facilities are never this careless, especially to the point of attempted murder for monetary gain. Even though the ideas within this film lean heavily to the left, there is no denying that it is a well-made, well-acted film. In fact, alongside "Jaws" I consider "The China Syndrome" to be one of the few truly scary films to come out of the 1970s. The look and feel of this film is sometimes dated, but the threat of a nuclear meltdown remains a fearful reality. Recommended.

This is one of my favorite movies. I have the 1999 DVD. (I'm not sure why another is needed; maybe more subtitles.) Mine has 1.85 anamorphic, letterbox, and 1.33 too. The transfer is good. The sound is mono; that on the one just out is a matter of dispute -- either mono or stereo, depending on what you read. (Amazon says mono.)

Yes, this movie has Lemmon, Fonda, et alii -- especially Wilford Brimley, whose performance impressed me a lot. But, maybe because I'm an engineer, I've always thought the real star was the nuclear power plant itself. The movie is, after all, about the safety of nuclear electrical power. The "Ventana" plant stands as a monolithic menace, dominating the movie. (The control room was based on the Trojan plant in Eugene, Oregon; I can't find out where the bowels-of-the-plant sets came from, or the external views.) That it is both loving and vengeful God is always apparent, true at the time of release and moreso today after Three-mile Island, Chernobyl, and especially the California electrical power crisis. The quantity and complexity of design and hardware necessary to run and control the plant are the base structure on which the story rides, giving the opportunities for mechanical failure and human fallibility and criminal chicanery with their consequent apocalyptic danger. (Mike Gray wrote the story in 1974 and 1975 stimulated by failures at the Dresden II reactor near Chicago in 1970 and the TVA's Brown's Ferry reactor in Alabama in 1975.)

The problem of energy sources is still with us. I feel that nuclear power is the way to go until a better way comes along, that civilization will demand it, even in our hyper-safety world. (Would cars, or even aspirin, make it if introduced today?) It might be sun, it won't be wind, and we'll run out of oil. The risks will be managed, and this movie will continue to have its place in the cautionary tales that guide the management.

When THE CHINA SYNDROME was released, plenty of right-wing critics and pro-nuke supporters blasted this film, particularly since its three leading stars were all known for their liberal politics and their overt distrust of nuclear power. But it only took two weeks and a near-catastrophic accident at Three Mile Island to shut those critics up.
One of the most controversial and often debated issues of the decade was whether or not the convenience and efficiency of the nation's nuclear power plants were worth the obvious risks they entailed. Curiously, however, the Seventies managed to produce only one feature film dealing with the subject, "The China Syndrome", an excellent, thought-provoking "doomsday" thriller that became the first major screen success of 1979.
Fonda and Douglas are the L.A. news crew that witness a potentially nasty accident at the Ventana nuclear power plant. Douglas films the event through the plant's soundproof glass; but the TV station will not air the footage, fearing a massive lawsuit. It is thus up to Fonda and Douglas to get at the truth, despite a massive attempt by the plant's owners to cover up the accident. Fundamentally, nuclear power can NEVER be made safe because people can NEVER be perfect. That is what the film is saying; and in a highly entertaining and suspenseful way, it says it brilliantly.

Nowadays there are plenty of "message movies" like Syriana and Munich but they all seem to be overbloated bores.1979's edge of your seat The China Syndrome shows that you can have a message and a taut film at the same time.This film works so well thanks to a great cast that includes reporter Jane Fonda and Michael Douglas trying to help a plant worker Jack Lemmon expose the dangers of a nuclear power plant.When nobody will listen Lemmon must take drastic measures leading to a nailbiting climax.The movie has no music score or big special effects or fancy camera tricks but instead relies on a smart script and tight direction.Years later it's still way better than many bigger Hollywood blockbusters.

About a near disastrous accident at a nuclear power plant and the attempted cover-up that follows. But Jack Lemmon, who is a technician who witnessed the accident and knows something is wrong, and Jane Fonda, a TV reporter, spearhead an attempt to get the truth out. The suspense builds as Lemmon and Fonda find more evidence of a cover-up and the plant management tries to stop them (licensing for the plant is at risk). All of it climaxes with Lemmon barricading himself in the control room of the plant and being interviewed by Fonda on TV. A real credit to the movie is that Lemmon is not portrayed as a knight in shining armor, saving the day, but a half-crazed man: during the planned TV stint with Fonda he isn't able to articulate the problem at the plant and does sound like he might be just whacko. The suspense is so great that many people don't realize there's no soundtrack at all in the whole movie. Definitely worth a watch.

The China Syndrome is a great film.

Kimberly Wells(Jane Fonda) is a television reporter doing a fluff story on a local nuclear power plant when a real story falls in her lap. Doing a routine check the plant has an accident. Kimberly and her cameraman, Richard Adams(Michael Douglas), happen to be in the control room when it happens and Richard gets the whole thing on tape. Upon returning to the station her boss decides that they can not air the segment because they were not suppose to film in the restricted area. Infuriated Richard steals the tape. Meanwhile Jack Godell(Jack Lemmon), the plant supervisor, realizes that a major catastrophy was narrowly averted. However,the big wigs at the plant aren't interested because they are about to land a major contract and they don't even want to consider shuting down.

Now the stage is set. What happens from this point on in the film is intense mounting suspense. The film is contantly asking it's audience questions and then quickly delivering answers, but it never lets on too much. The big burning question, though, is will there be another accident at the plant? If there is, this time it will not be able to be swept under the carpet as easily as the first.

This film is situational character development at its finest. Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas are all in top form in this picture. Especially the late great Lemmon, this is one of his best roles. The supporting cast is excellent as well. Directer James Bridges flawlessly directs the action and with almost no music. It is quite an achievement.

I highly recommend this film to anyone and everyone.

The China Syndrome does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat, with compelling performances from Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda. The suspense the film creates is top notch.

For those of us who grew up in the 70's and early 80's, nuclear power as well as the threat of nuclear war were a big part of our social conscience and fears. The China Syndrome does an admirable job of representing that widespread uneasiness with nuclear power through it's dialogue-rich storyline. Three Mile Island and Chernobyl were incrediby scary things to be exposed to as a child, and The China Syndrome succeeds in never letting those of us who remember...forget, what that can feel like.

I picked this DVD up for a fair price...and it's an excellent addition to my growing collection of film classics. It is a tremendous film.