Class Action (1991)

Jeb Ward is an attorney who specializes in whistle blower, David vs. Goliath, type cases. He finds a client who is suing an auto company over a safety problem that has had a severe effect ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Apted

Writers:

Carolyn Shelby, Christopher Ames,

Stars:

Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Colin Friels

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gene Hackman	...	Jedediah Tucker Ward
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Maggie Ward
Colin Friels	...	Michael Grazier
Joanna Merlin	...	Estelle Ward
Laurence Fishburne	...	Nick Holbrook (as Larry Fishburne)
Donald Moffat	...	Quinn
Jan Rubes	...	Pavel
Matt Clark	...	Judge Symes
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Dr. Getchell
Jonathan Silverman	...	Brian
Joan McMurtrey	...	Ann
Anne Ramsay	...	Deborah (as Anne Elizabeth Ramsay)
David Byron	...	Carl
Tim Hopper	...	Howie
Robert David Hall	...	Steven Kellen

Storyline

Jeb Ward is an attorney who specializes in whistle blower, David vs. Goliath, type cases. He finds a client who is suing an auto company over a safety problem that has had a severe effect on his life after the accident. He must replace the current atorney and be ready for trial quickly, and then he finds that the defense atorney will be his estranged daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

trial | work ethic | estrangement | lawyer | generation gap | 

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Taglines:

For the plaintiff...Jedediah Tucker Ward. For the defense...Margaret Eleanor Ward. Nothing Personal. It's just Father Vs. Daughter in the fight of their lives.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for uses of strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Személyes ügy

Filming Locations:

Bix Restaurant - 56 Gold Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$24,277,858 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Interscope Communications, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

San Francisco mayor Art Agnos and city supervisor Angela Alioto can be glimpsed as extras in church congregation during Gene Hackman's homage speech to his deceased wife.

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Goofs

After being deluged with former test engineer Pavel's lifetime work files while at the automaker, Jed Ward asks colleagues to find "Pavel, the bunny man," so they can speak with him. If they had not yet spoken with Pavel, Jed would not know to describe him as "the bunny man."

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Quotes

Jedediah Tucker Ward: By the way, you so much as look at my daughter, they won't be able to identify you with dental records.

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Connections

Referenced in Oh, Woe Is Me (1993)

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Soundtracks

"Up, Up, Up"
Written by Dan Hicks
Performed by Dan Hicks and the Acoustic Warriors with the Licketts

User Reviews

Courtroom Drama

Another court room drama - well, in a manner of speaking yes. "Class Action" is more of a family drama that makes use of the court room as an arena where attorney Jedediah Tucker Ward and his daughter Maggie Ward clash.

The movie shows flashes of riveting brilliance, but it is mostly inconsistent and ultimately the story is predictable. Direction from veteran Michael Apted is pedestrian, Colin Friels in a supporting role is uninspired and Gene Hackman is well below par. The rest of the cast, which included Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Laurence Fishburne, are there for the ride.

Friday, April 26, 1991 - Hoyts Midcity Melbourne