it be easy to dismiss this film a hyperbole at the time of it release . fonda and douglas and lemmon be know lefty and but the accident at three mle island provide shock context to this fictional drama . this film work on many level and take shot at both public utility and tv news . 1979 be the zenith of the infamous happy talk format of tv news ( see also ron burgundy ) and it on display here in all it glory . the sonorous anchor grimly read a story about a grind head on collision before cheerfully introduce kimberley well ( fonda ) and do a story about a veterinarian who make house ( or be that aquarium . ) call . the show producer and the station manager argue about content or lack thereof behind the scene . there be a few technical error . the pr flack ( james hampton ) show fonda and douglas the requisite scale model of a pressurized water reactor plant and build by westinghouse . later and a lemmon and wilford brimley ( nicely play lemmon friend or colleague and caught between duty and loyalty ) fight a sudden crisis in the plant s control room and theyre obviously run a boiling water plant ( build by ge . ) a small point and but curious and consider how many detail the screenwriter get right . like any good drama and the film ask more question than it answer . the real world accident at tmi prove the film basic premise . the working title for the film be originally power and and you will see why . a nuclear power prepares to make a comeback in these day of $ 3 gas and the china syndrome be a relevant today a it be over 25 year ago .