The families of children who died, sue two companies for dumping toxic waste: a tort so expensive to prove, the case could bankrupt their lawyers.
Director:
Steven Zaillian
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Title: A Civil Action (1998)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| John Travolta | ... | ||
| Robert Duvall | ... | ||
| Tony Shalhoub | ... | ||
| William H. Macy | ... | ||
| Zeljko Ivanek | ... | ||
 |
Bruce Norris | ... | |
| John Lithgow | ... | ||
| Kathleen Quinlan | ... | ||
| Peter Jacobson | ... |
Neil Jacobs
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| Mary Mara | ... | ||
| James Gandolfini | ... | ||
| Stephen Fry | ... |
Pinder
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| Dan Hedaya | ... | ||
| David Thornton | ... | ||
| Sydney Pollack | ... | ||
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Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Jan Schlichtmann, a tenacious lawyer, is addressed by a group of families. When investigating the seemingly non-profiting case, he finds it to be a major environmental issue that has a lot of impact potential. A leather production company could be responsible for several deadly cases of leukemia, but also is the main employer for the area. Schlichtmann and his three colleagues set out to have the company forced to decontaminate the affected areas, and of course to sue for a major sum of compensation. But the lawyers of the leather company's mother company are not easy to get to, and soon Schlichtmann and his friends find themselves in a battle of mere survival. Written by Julian Reischl <[email protected]>
Taglines:
Justice has its price.Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 January 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Una acción civil See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$75,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$70,079, 27 December 1998, Limited ReleaseGross USA:
$56,702,901, 2 May 1999Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Jan Schlichtmann: [narrating] It's like this. A dead plaintiff is rarely worth as much as a living, severely-maimed plaintiff. However, if it's a long slow agonizing death, as opposed to a quick drowning or car wreck, the value can rise considerably. A dead adult in his 20s is generally worth less than one who is middle aged. A dead woman less than a dead man. A single adult less than one who's married. Black less than white. Poor less than rich. The perfect victim is a white male professional, 40 ...
See more »
(1978)
Music by Jack Nitzsche
Lyrics by Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder, Paul Schrader
Performed by Don Van Vliet (as Captain Beefheart)
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Based on a true story. See more »Goofs
When Boston and Jan Schlichtmann's office suffers a widespread power outage during an evening thunderstorm, he uses a PBX90 AT&T Merlin office phone which would've been inoperable without AC electricity thus he couldn't have called Al Eustis at W.R. Grace. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Jan Schlichtmann: [narrating] It's like this. A dead plaintiff is rarely worth as much as a living, severely-maimed plaintiff. However, if it's a long slow agonizing death, as opposed to a quick drowning or car wreck, the value can rise considerably. A dead adult in his 20s is generally worth less than one who is middle aged. A dead woman less than a dead man. A single adult less than one who's married. Black less than white. Poor less than rich. The perfect victim is a white male professional, 40 ...
See more »
Crazy Credits
The producers wish to thank the people of Boston, Waltham, Northbridge, Charlestown, Dedham, Brimfield and Palmer, MA. See more »Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: You've Got Mail/Down in the Delta/The Thin Red Line/A Civil Action/Affliction (1998) See more »Soundtracks
Hard Workin' Man(1978)
Music by Jack Nitzsche
Lyrics by Jack Nitzsche, Ry Cooder, Paul Schrader
Performed by Don Van Vliet (as Captain Beefheart)
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets
See more »
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How to interpret viewer comments on this film:
"Slow-moving" = ...no car chases.
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"too long" = ...longer than a music video
"dull" = ...See "Slow-moving"
"A Civil Action" was a fine book, and the film does it justice. No, it's not perfect, but it is emotionally moving, and faithful to the non-fiction account of the case.
Some of the heart-rending short scenes featuring parents of the child-victims (the father at the deposition; the parents trying to revive the dying child in the car) were absolute masterpieces. There should be special Academy Awards available for brief scenes of this kind that are too "small" for Best Supporting Actor awards, but are, in themselves, worthy of acclaim.