THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979) Movie Poster, Vintage Original Daybill
Size AU Daybill Post-War (13" x 30")
THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979) Movie Poster Vintage Original Daybill, Starring Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Directed by James Bridges is in Very Fine+ Condition. Movie Poster and Condition. Condition:...
THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979) Movie Poster Vintage Original Daybill, Starring Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas, Directed by James Bridges is in Very Fine+ Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This original, unrestored Australian Daybill Movie Poster presents as Near Mint condition, with 2 daybill folds as issued with slight handling wear on the 1st fold towards the right hand side and a minute tear at the end, otherwise this poster is in excellent condition. This highly sought-after Australian Daybill format is prized by collectors for its unique dimensions and striking visual appeal. The poster retains its original fold lines as issued, with no tears, pinholes, or fading, making it an उत्कृष्ट example for serious collectors of vintage movie memorabilia. While the specific poster artist is uncredited, the design reflects the late-1970s aesthetic, combining bold typography and dramatic imagery to capture the film’s tense, investigative tone.
Movie Synopsis
The China Syndrome (1979) is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that explores the dangers of nuclear power and the ethical dilemmas faced by those who uncover inconvenient truths. Directed by James Bridges and starring Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, and Michael Douglas, the film remains a landmark in socially conscious cinema.
The story follows ambitious television reporter Kimberly Wells (Jane Fonda) and her cameraman Richard Adams (Michael Douglas), who are assigned to cover a routine piece at a nuclear power plant in California. During their visit, they witness a near-catastrophic incident that is quickly downplayed by the plant’s management. Suspicious of a cover-up, Kimberly becomes determined to uncover the truth, despite mounting pressure from corporate executives and network executives to abandon the story.
At the heart of the narrative is Jack Lemmon’s powerful performance as Jack Godell, a seasoned plant supervisor who begins to question the safety protocols and integrity of the facility. As he grapples with his conscience, Godell becomes an unlikely whistleblower, risking his career and life to expose systemic flaws that could lead to a devastating nuclear meltdown, referred to in the film as the "China Syndrome".
The film is renowned for its realistic portrayal of nuclear energy concerns and its intense, slow-building suspense. In an eerie coincidence, its release came just days before the real-life Three Mile Island nuclear incident, which amplified its cultural impact and relevance. The screenplay, written by Mike Gray, T.S. Cook, and James Bridges, combines investigative journalism with corporate intrigue, making it both an engaging thriller and a cautionary tale.
Michael Douglas, who also served as producer, played a key role in bringing this important story to the screen, while Jane Fonda’s performance adds emotional depth and determination to the narrative. Jack Lemmon received an Academy Award nomination for his compelling portrayal of moral conflict under pressure.
Today, The China Syndrome is regarded as a classic of its genre, praised for its intelligent script, strong performances, and enduring relevance. This original 1979 Australian Daybill movie poster is a fantastic collector’s item for fans of political thrillers, vintage cinema, and film history.
To find out more about The China Syndrome (1979) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes.
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
- War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
- Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
- Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.