Alerte rouge

Above-average TV disaster film works within the confinements of the genre and is fairly suspenseful, but it's remarkable for its warning of a nuclear meltdown nearly a decade before the Chernobyl disaster.

A busted water pipe sends steam into the containment room of a nuclear reactor. That in turn sets of a series of events that makes the central computer observing the status of all the country's reactors,believe that the entire system may be at the mercy of saboteurs and so shuts down all access to the plant.

Brolin and Weisch are tasked with trying to discover whether this is an accident or sabotage from within.

Brilliant performances from the leads in William Devane as Frank Brolin and Michael Brandon as Carl Weisch. Ralph Wait as the 'By the book' Commander Henry Stone are the main characters but it has to be said an excellent support cast fulfill their roles well.

Sabotage is suspected at a Minnesota nuclear power plant, and a struggle ensues involving government response by the book (Ralph Waite), and logic prevailing (William Devane). Also thickening the plot is a massive computer, political implications of a meltdown, and personal tragedy. Ethical questions abound, and someone has to make the life and death decisions. "Red Alert" is really a unique viewing experience. It has decent character development, an exciting story, and will make you think, even if it is only about an impending disaster, and it's implications for everyone concerned. This is truly an involving and entertaining film. - MERK

Red Alert was filmed in 1977 with William Devane play the role of Frank Brolen, Michael Brandon plays the role of Carl Wyche, and Adrienne Barbeau plays the role of Judy Wyche. In a small town in Minnesota sits a nuclear power plant that goes into meltdown follow by a sudden explosion. Enters Frank Brolen and Carl Wyche who must figure out what started the meltdown. Enters Henry Stone who's the plant manager and he's the by the book type. When employees start to die Stone orders the plant in lock down mode. Wyche calls his wife Judy and tells her to get out of town and fast. Brolen and Stone get into an argument over the lock down which leads to Wyche going in any way. Things start to get worst and it's up to Brolen to get in to not only **** his Partner but the other workers. I bought this movie because of Adr8ienne Barbeau and I was disappointed. She didn't have a big part and for that reason I'm giving this movie 5 weasel stars.

I used to watch this on late night TV. Then I taped it to have it in my library. Then, came the china syndrome. A very bloated, big budget bore. Lemmon overacts through out the film. Douglas is reduced to carrying a camera around. The only upside is Fonda in a sweater. Red Alert has two good actors to spearhead the film, Devane and Waite. The premise of the film is realistic. It reminds me sadly of Chernobyl where an accident rapidly becomes a nightmare in a short period of time. If you get the chance watch Red Alert judge for yourself. I always hold this in mind. Sometimes less is more. This movie proves that point. It tells the story very well within a limited amount of time.