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A Civil Action (1998) 6.4
Ratings:
6.4/10 from 17,647 users
Metascore: 68/100
Reviews: 171 user | 107 critic | 26 from Metacritic.com The families of children who died sue two companies for dumping toxic waste: a tort so expensive to prove, the case could bankrupt their lawyer. 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 | ... |
William Cheeseman
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| 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 | ... |
Richard Aufiero
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| Sydney Pollack | ... |
Al Eustis
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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 <julianreischl@mac.com>
Taglines:
Justice has its price.Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 January 1999 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Zivilprozeß See more »Box Office
Budget:
$60,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£332,872 (UK) (9 April 1999)Gross:
$56,702,901 (USA) (30 April 1999)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
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 ...
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from A Summer Place
Music by Max Steiner
Performed by Percy Faith and His Orchestra (uncredited)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Based on a true story. See more »Goofs
Jan races his Porsche toward Woburn to meet with the families for the first time. He zooms along one distinctive stretch of road and in the next scene he is being given a speeding ticket on a bridge. When he leaves Woburn, he is seen racing along the same stretch of road, only to be stopped again on the same bridge. The bridge has moved from being after the stretch of road heading into Woburn, to being after the same stretch when driving away from Woburn. 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 »Soundtracks
"Theme"from A Summer Place
Music by Max Steiner
Performed by Percy Faith and His Orchestra (uncredited)
See more »
Engrossing drama about a slick lawyer (Travolta) who takes on a civil case involving the death of eight children from leukimia after toxic chemicals were dumped into the water supply in a small Massachusetts town. Taken at first for the glory, but when the case becomes a issue worth fighting for, the lawyer learns more about humanity and passion than he ever knew. Startling film under the direction of Steven Zallian with standout performances from Duvall, scene stealing as Travolta's pompous courtroom adversary and Macy, razor sharp as always, as financial advisor at Travolta's firm.