The China Syndrome (1979)
The film The China Syndrome (1979), directed by James Bridges, follows a television reporter named Kimberly Wells and her colleagues Richard Adams and Hector Salas as they visit the Ventana nuclear power plant near Los Angeles. During their visit, they witness a turbine trip and emergency shutdown. Shift Supervisor Jack Godell notices an odd vibration in his coffee cup and responds to high water levels by removing water from the core. However, the gauge remains high even as more valves are opened to dump water. Another operator sees a second gauge showing low water levels. Godell taps the first gauge, causing it to unstick and reveal very low levels. The crew quickly pumps water back into the core and celebrates as they regain control of the reactor.
Despite being asked not to film for security reasons, Adams has surreptitiously recorded the incident. However, when Wells’ superior disregards her report of what occurred, Adams takes matters into their own hands and obtains the footage. After showing it to experts, it is determined that the plant was dangerously close to a meltdown known as the China syndrome. During an inspection before bringing the plant back online, Godell discovers radioactive water leaking from a pump. Despite Godell’s push to delay restarting, the plant superintendent is adamant about moving forward. Upon further investigation, Godell uncovers that the contractor had been repeatedly submitting identical radiograph images for weld verification on the faulty pump.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Jane FondaKimberly Wells  Jack LemmonJack Godell  Michael DouglasRichard Adams  Scott BradyHerman De Young  Wilford BrimleyTed Spindler |
The film The China Syndrome (1979), directed by James Bridges, follows a television reporter named Kimberly Wells and her colleagues Richard Adams and Hector Salas as they visit the Ventana nuclear power plant near Los Angeles. During their visit, they witness a turbine trip and emergency shutdown. Shift Supervisor Jack Godell notices an odd vibration in his coffee cup and responds to high water levels by removing water from the core. However, the gauge remains high even as more valves are opened to dump water. Another operator sees a second gauge showing low water levels. Godell taps the first gauge, causing it to unstick and reveal very low levels. The crew quickly pumps water back into the core and celebrates as they regain control of the reactor.
Despite being asked not to film for security reasons, Adams has surreptitiously recorded the incident. However, when Wells’ superior disregards her report of what occurred, Adams takes matters into their own hands and obtains the footage. After showing it to experts, it is determined that the plant was dangerously close to a meltdown known as the China syndrome. During an inspection before bringing the plant back online, Godell discovers radioactive water leaking from a pump. Despite Godell’s push to delay restarting, the plant superintendent is adamant about moving forward. Upon further investigation, Godell uncovers that the contractor had been repeatedly submitting identical radiograph images for weld verification on the faulty pump.
