A Civil Action (1998)

Director:

Steven Zaillian

Writers (WGA):

Jonathan Harr (book)
Steven Zaillian (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 January 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Justice has its price.

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Lawyer | Leukemia | Lawsuit | Settlement | Toxic Waste

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Jan Schlichtmann
Robert Duvall	...	Jerome Facher
Tony Shalhoub	...	Kevin Conway
William H. Macy	...	James Gordon
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Bill Crowley
Bruce Norris	...	William Cheeseman
John Lithgow	...	Judge Walter J. Skinner
Kathleen Quinlan	...	Anne Anderson
Peter Jacobson	...	Neil Jacobs
Mary Mara	...	Kathy Boyer
James Gandolfini	...	Al Love
Stephen Fry	...	Pinder
Dan Hedaya	...	John Riley
David Thornton	...	Richard Aufiero
Sydney Pollack	...	Al Eustis
Ned Eisenberg	...	Uncle Pete
Margot Rose	...	Donna Robbins
Daniel von Bargen	...	Mr. Granger (as Daniel Von Bargen)
Caroline Carrigan	...	Evelyn Love
Paul Desmond	...	Paul Shalline
Michael P. Byrne	...	Tommy Barbas
Tracy Miller	...	Grace Worker
Paul Hewitt	...	Grace Worker
Clayton Landey	...	Grace Worker
Paul Ben-Victor	...	Bobby Pasqueriella
Elizabeth Burnette	...	Lauren Aufiero
Alan Wilder	...	Insurance Lawyer
Gregg Joseph Monk	...	Insurance Lawyer
Harout Beshlian	...	Insurance Lawyer
Josh Pais	...	Law Clerk
Haskell V. Anderson III	...	Courtroom #7 Clerk (as Haskell Vaughn Anderson III)
Kaiulani Lee	...	Mrs. Granger
Howie Carr	...	Radio Talk Show Host
Denise Dowse	...	Judge Constance Mullen
Pearline Fergerson	...	Court Clerk
Scott Weintraub	...	PI Lawyers
Robert Cicchini	...	PI Lawyers
Christopher Stevenson	...	Insurance Plaintiff
Kevin Fry	...	Waiter
Brian Turk	...	Mover
Rikki Klieman	...	TV Reporter
Charlie Stavola	...	Detective
David Barrett	...	Teenager on Property
Ryan Janis	...	Teenager on Property
Rob McElhenney	...	Teenager on Property
Michael Biase	...	Market Clerk (as Mike Biase)
Richard Calnan	...	Woburn Traffic Cop
Gene Wolande	...	Hotel Clerk
Sam Travolta	...	Grace Attorney
Gregg Shawzin	...	Reporter
Juliana Donald	...	Reporter (as Juli Donald)
Sayda Alan	...	Reporter
Catherine Leahan	...	Reporter
Bruce Holman	...	Federal Marshall
John Lafayette	...	Geologist (as John La Fayette)
Charles Levin	...	Geologist
Byron Jennings	...	Geologist
Jay Patterson	...	Geologist
Taylor Bernard	...	Trustee's Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kathy Bates	...	Bankruptcy Judge (uncredited)
Melissa Calheno	...	Girl Dancing with Jan Schlichtmann (uncredited)
Tom Cutler	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Lana Ford	...	Francine Conway (uncredited)
Bryan Greenberg	...	Firecracker Kid (uncredited)
Phil Hawn	...	Attorney in Courtroom Gallery (uncredited)
Aaron Henry	...	Al Love's Son (uncredited)
Edward Herrmann	...	(uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Richie LaMontagne	...	(uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Blake Neitzel	...	Boy in Classroom (uncredited)
Collin Pelton	...	Sports Fan (uncredited)
Rocco Salata	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
Racheal Seymour	...	Car Accident Woman (uncredited)
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Land Watcher (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Zaillian

Writing credits (WGA)
Jonathan Harr		(book)
Steven Zaillian		(screenplay)

Produced by
Henry J. Golas	....	associate producer
David McGiffert	....	associate producer
Rachel Pfeffer	....	producer
Robert Redford	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
David Wisnievitz	....	executive producer
Steven Zaillian	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall

Film Editing by
Wayne Wahrman

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
David Gropman

Set Decoration by
Tracey A. Doyle

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles
Hallie D'Amore	....	makeup artist: Ms. Quinlan, Los Angeles
Whitney James	....	chief makeup artist: Los Angeles (as Whitney L. James)
Susan V. Kalinowski	....	hair stylist: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles
Cheryl Ann Nick	....	key makeup artist: Los Angeles (as Cheryl Nick)
Arturo Rojas	....	key hair stylist: Los Angeles
Martin Samuel	....	chief hair stylist: Los Angeles
Courtney Corvan	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Katherine E. Beyda	....	production supervisor
David Wisnievitz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Amundson	....	first assistant director: second unit
Timothy Grant Engle	....	second second assistant director: Los Angeles (as Timothy Engle)
Stephen E. Hagen	....	second assistant director (as Stephen Hagen)
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Alejandro Aguilar	....	labor foreman: Los Angeles
John Bettencourt	....	assistant greensman: Boston
Jennifer Blair	....	art department coordinator: Los Angeles
David J. Bomba	....	art director: Los Angeles
Larry Clark	....	head painter: Los Angeles
Larry A. Cornick	....	leadman: Los Angeles
Daniel J. Courchaine	....	paint foreman: Boston (as Daniel Courchaine)
Ronald Cox	....	propmaker foreman: Los Angeles (as Ronald W. Cox)
Lee Cunningham	....	assistant set decorator: Los Angeles
Ken Doyle	....	assistant greensman: Boston (as Kenneth J. Doyle Jr.)
Tracey A. Doyle	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Jennifer Engel	....	property assistant: Boston
Kyra Friedman	....	assistant set decorator: Boston
Michael Gastaldo	....	assistant property master: Los Angeles
Raymond Ginther	....	head plasterer: Los Angeles
Carmine Goglia	....	stand-by painter: Los Angeles
Paul W. Gorfine	....	scenic artist: Boston
Wylie Griffin	....	art department administrator: Boston (as Wylie Young Griffin)
Caroline Irons	....	scenic artist: Boston
John R. Jensen	....	art director: Boston
William C. Jones	....	construction foreman: Los Angeles
Dean Lakoff	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Loren Lyons	....	on-set dresser: Los Angeles
Randy Manion	....	art department assistant: Boston
Robin L. Miller	....	property master: Los Angeles
Chris Pascuzzo	....	set dresser: Los Angeles (as Christopher Pascuzzo)
Susan Peterson	....	scenic artist: Boston
Frank Piercy	....	painter foreman: Los Angeles (as Franklin Piercy)
Alan L. Porter	....	set dresser: Los Angeles
Ron Resch	....	construction medic: Los Angeles
Paul Richards	....	leadman: Boston
Anne Roesch	....	art department assistant: Los Angeles
Catherine Rooney	....	assistant greensman: Boston
Lori Rowbotham	....	assistant art director: Boston
Lee Runnels	....	head greensman: Los Angeles
John H. Samson	....	construction coordinator: Los Angeles (as John Samson)
Rob Simons	....	assistant art director: Los Angeles
Kurt Smith	....	construction coordinator: Boston
Linda Stelling	....	construction medic: Los Angeles
John H. Storey	....	scenic artist: Boston
Peter A. Tullo	....	prop assistant: Los Angeles
Doug Crawford	....	propmaker: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Joe Elvington	....	labor foreman: reshoot (uncredited)
Timothy Joliat	....	carpenter: Boston (uncredited)
Jim Magdaleno	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Luigi Mugavero	....	lead man (uncredited)
Timothy O'Brien	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Jack O'Neil	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Kathleen Rosen	....	buyer (uncredited)
Ahmed Saker	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Kenneth Salter	....	carpenter gang boss (uncredited)
Theodore Suchecki	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer: Los Angeles
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor: Los Angeles
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer: Los Angeles (as Gary Bourgeois)
Bryan Bowen	....	sound effects editor: Los Angeles
Bob Bowman	....	first assistant sound editor: Los Angeles
Perry Dodgson	....	utility sound: Los Angeles (as Perry Dodgeson)
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	dialogue editor: Los Angeles (as Richard Dwan)
Robert Fernandez	....	choir recordist: Los Angeles
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital sound assistant: Los Angeles
Hector C. Gika	....	sound effects editor: Los Angeles
Dan Hegeman	....	foley editor: Los Angeles
Chris Hogan	....	dialogue editor: Los Angeles (as Christopher W. Hogan)
Craig S. Jaeger	....	foley editor: Los Angeles
Chris Jargo	....	adr supervisor: Los Angeles
Constance A. Kazmer	....	adr editor: Los Angeles
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor: Los Angeles (as Randy Kelly)
Ariel Kemp	....	additional sound: Los Angeles
Larry Kemp	....	supervising sound editor: Los Angeles
Daniel R. Kerr	....	additional sound: Los Angeles
Lee W. Lebaigue	....	additional sound: Los Angeles (as Lee Lebaigue)
Julie Lucas	....	foley recordist: Los Angeles (as Julie C. Lucas)
David MacMillan	....	production sound mixer: Los Angeles (as David Macmillan)
Harrison D. Marsh	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
James Moriana	....	foley artist: Los Angeles
Tony Negrete	....	assistant sound editor: Los Angeles (as Tony R. Negrete)
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound: Los Angeles
Michelle Pazer	....	assistant adr editor: Los Angeles
Dan M. Rich	....	dialogue editor: Los Angeles (as Dan Rich)
Alison Sanford	....	sound recordist: Los Angeles
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer: Los Angeles
Mary Ruth Smith	....	adr editor: Los Angeles
Wylie Stateman	....	additional sound: Los Angeles
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist: Los Angeles

Special Effects by
Guy Clayton Jr.	....	special effects coordinator: Los Angeles (as Guy Clayton)
Guy Faria	....	special effects foreman: Los Angeles (as Guy Fario)
William 'Billy Jack' Jakielaszek	....	special effects assistant: Boston (as William Jakielaszek)
Gary L. King	....	special effects assistant: Boston
John W. Noble	....	special effects assistant: Boston
Brian Ricci	....	special effects foreman: Boston
Ed Ricci	....	special effects assistant: Boston (as Edward P. Ricci)
Gary D. Woodworth	....	special effects assistant: Boston

Visual Effects by
Mike Wassel	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts (uncredited)

Stunts
Joey Box	....	stunt performer
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunt performer
Bryan Greenberg	....	stunt performer
Dustin Meier	....	stunt performer (as Dustin J. Meier)
Mark Riccardi	....	stunt coordinator
Mario Roberts	....	stunt performer
David Barrett	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Mark Riccardi	....	stunt double: John Travolta (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Karine Albano	....	lighting technician: Boston
Scott Baker	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Thomas M. Baker	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
James Barrett	....	rigging technician: Los Angeles
Rick A. Benedetto	....	rigging best boy: Los Angeles (as Richard A. Benedetto)
Carlos Bermudez	....	lighting technician: Boston
Erik Bernstein	....	best boy electric: Los Angeles
Eric Boyle	....	grip: Boston (as Eric E. Boyle)
Arnold F. Brown	....	grip: Boston (as Arnold Brown)
Jonathan Brown	....	Steadicam operator: Boston
Jonathan Brown	....	camera operator: "b" camera, Boston
Clyde E. Bryan	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Lon Caracappa	....	rigging best boy electric: Boston
Gary S. Christie	....	best boy rigging grip: Los Angeles (as Gary Christie)
Edmund P. Chrostowski	....	rigging grip: Boston
Billy Craft	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles (as Billy F. Craft Jr.)
Robert Cuddy	....	lighting technician: Boston
R. Michael De Chellis	....	rigging gaffer: Los Angeles
Michael DiIeso	....	rigging electrician: Boston (as Michael Diieso)
John Emory	....	grip: Los Angeles
Chris Garcia	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, Boston
Raymond Gonzales	....	rigging technician: Los Angeles (as Raymond A. Gonzales)
Pascal M. Guillemard	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles (as Pascal Guillemard)
Conrad W. Hall	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Tim Hogan	....	best boy rigging grip: Boston (as Timothy L. Hogan)
David James	....	still photographer: Los Angeles
Tom Keenan	....	lighting technician: Boston (as Thomas F. Keenan)
Gerald A. King	....	key rigging grip: Los Angeles
Kenny King	....	key grip: second unit (as Ken King)
Ronald Kline	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Trevor Loomis	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Boston
Steve McLean	....	additional assistant camera: Los Angeles
Jack McPhee	....	rigging electrician: Boston (as John F. McPhee)
James R. Mitchell	....	rigging electrician: Boston
Sean Napolitano	....	grip: second unit
Ryan Parks	....	loader: Los Angeles
Jeff Pelton	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles
Bruton Peterson	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles (as Bruton R. Peterson)
Michael F. Pierre	....	rigging technician: Los Angeles (as Michael Pierre)
Brian A. Pitts	....	lighting technician: Boston
Michael E. Reynolds	....	grip: Boston
Calmar Roberts	....	first assistant camera: Los Angeles (as Cal Roberts)
Peter Rowan	....	best boy rigging grip: Boston
Patrick Ruth	....	rigging electrician: Boston
Mike Schwake	....	dolly grip: Los Angeles
Don Selsor	....	second grip: Los Angeles
Jason Selsor	....	grip: Los Angeles
Sean Smith	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Michael Stone	....	camera operator: "b" camera, Los Angeles
Suzanne Trucks	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Roger Wall	....	additional assistant camera: Los Angeles
John W. Walsh	....	rigging grip: Boston
Scott C. Williman	....	rigging technician: Los Angeles
Robert Witherspoon	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Jerry Woodside	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Randy Woodside	....	chief lighting technician: Los Angeles
Eric Wycoff	....	lighting technician: Los Angeles
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video assist: Los Angeles (as Frank Yario)
Frank Yario Jr.	....	video playback: Los Angeles (as Frank Yario)
Bill Young	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Haris Zambarloukos	....	camera intern: Los Angeles
Harry Zimmerman	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Woody Bell	....	grip (uncredited)
Rick Cardillo	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Tim Driscoll	....	grip (uncredited)
Ron Goodman	....	camera operator: SpaceCam (uncredited)
Rick Harris	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Guy Holt	....	electrician (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen	....	rigger (uncredited)
Daniel C. McFadden	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Philip A. Reilly	....	electrician (uncredited)
William M. Weberg	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Caroline Carrigan	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Julie Lichter	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
Matt Bouldry	....	location casting assistant: Boston (uncredited)
Kevin Fennessy	....	casting associate: Boston (uncredited)
Carolyn Pickman	....	casting: Boston (uncredited)
Jodi Purdy-Quinlan	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James P. Cullen	....	costumer: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles (as Jim Cullen)
Roberta Frankel	....	costumer: Boston
Barbara Marko	....	costumer: Los Angeles
Robert Q. Mathews	....	costume supervisor: Los Angeles
Austin Myers	....	assistant costume designer: Los Angeles
David Page	....	lead costumer: men, Los Angeles
Eva Prappas	....	lead costumer: women, Los Angeles
Rachelle Anthony	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Bill Babington	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles
Tori Capezza	....	post-production assistant: Boston
Phil Hetos	....	color timer: Los Angeles
Sara Hyoun	....	assistant editor: avid, Los Angeles
Xin Ling	....	post-production assistant: Los Angeles
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter: Los Angeles
Alexis Seymour	....	second assistant editor: Los Angeles
Bambi Sickafoose	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles

Music Department
Steve Bartek	....	conductor: choir, Los Angeles
Steve Bartek	....	orchestrator: Los Angeles
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation: Los Angeles
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	orchestra conductor: Los Angeles (as Dan Carlin Jr.)
Danny Elfman	....	score producer: Los Angeles
Tod Holcomb	....	assistant music editor: Los Angeles
Artie Kane	....	orchestra conductor: Los Angeles
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer: Los Angeles
Shawn Murphy	....	score recordist: Los Angeles
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, Los Angeles
Ellen Segal	....	music editor: Los Angeles
Edgardo Simone	....	additional orchestrator: Los Angeles
Patti Zimmitti	....	orchestra contractor: Los Angeles
Paul Wertheimer	....	music recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard Abate	....	transportation captain: Boston
William O'Brien	....	transportation coordinator: Boston (as Billy O'Brien)
Ken Peterson	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles (as Kenneth Peterson)
Kristen Redd-Ginchereau	....	transportation captain: Los Angeles (as Kris Redd-Ginchereau)
Bobby Anderson	....	picture car coordinator: Los Angeles (uncredited)
Michael Avallon	....	driver (uncredited)
Ken Farnell	....	driver (uncredited)
Dennis Lally	....	driver (uncredited)
Tina Peterson	....	driver (uncredited)
Alana Stelling	....	driver (uncredited)
Larry Stelling	....	picture car coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
Noah Ackerman	....	assistant: Mr. Zaillian, Los Angeles
Todd J. Adelman	....	set medic: Los Angeles (as Dr. Todd Adelman)
Stacy Basil	....	animal trainer: Birds & Animals, Los Angeles (as Stacy M. Basil)
Taylor Bernard	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Joseph Bouvier	....	set production assistant: second unit
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	....	production assistant: Boston
Joseph Braus	....	purchasing foreman: Los Angeles
Tom Brewer	....	technical consultant: geology, Los Angeles
Melinda Bullion	....	animal trainer: Birds & Animals, Los Angeles
Lola Caldwell	....	production secretary: Los Angeles
Richard Calnan	....	police coordinator: Boston (as Sgt. Richard Calnan)
Brent Carlton	....	personal trainer: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles
Jourdain Chapdelaine	....	office production assistant: Los Angeles (as Jordi Chapdelaine)
S. Todd Christensen	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles
John A. Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
Curtis Collins	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jennifer Corey	....	assistant production coordinator: Los Angeles
Margaret Cox	....	key production secretary: Los Angeles
Marianne Crescenzi	....	assistant production coordinator: Los Angeles
Merrilee Dale	....	first assistant accountant: Los Angeles (as Merrilee A. Dale)
Rod Damer	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Donna M. Duffy	....	technical consultant: medical, Los Angeles (as Donna Duffy)
Johnny Egan	....	set production assistant: second unit (as John Egan III)
Mike Elmendorf	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Monique Escamilla	....	assistant: Mr. Zaillian, Los Angeles
Peter Evangelatos	....	craft service: Los Angeles
Lisa Jean Felski	....	second assistant accountant: Los Angeles
Mark Fitzgerald	....	assistant location manager: Boston
Kenneth D. Fitzgibbon	....	medic: Boston
Bob Francis	....	technical consultant: geology, American Drilling Services, Los Angeles
Edward Goemans	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor: Los Angeles
Josh Greenstein	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
Ken Haber	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jay Handlin	....	legal consultant: Los Angeles
Charles Harrington	....	location manager: Boston (as Charlie Harrington)
Petersen Harris	....	office production assistant: Los Angeles
Mark N. Hopkins	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
Jody Hummer	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jeff Joy	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Michael Kaufman	....	stand-in
Mara Kerum	....	caterer: Tony's Food Service, Los Angeles
Brian King	....	title designer: Los Angeles
Namthip Kumpiranonth	....	craft service: Boston
Brandon Lambdin	....	set production assistant: Los Angeles
Gregory Lessans	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
James MacDonald	....	medic: Boston
Jeff N. Maclean	....	assistant location manager: Boston
Marc Mann	....	midi preparer and supervisor: Los Angeles
Cheryl McHugh	....	payroll accountant: Los Angeles
Courtenay Milburn	....	production assistant: Boston
Ralph Millero	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Margaret R. Montagnino	....	second assistant accountant: Boston
Robert J. Morton	....	assistant: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles (as Rob Morton)
Edward J. Nowak	....	legal consultant: Los Angeles
Malve O'Meara	....	production assistant: Boston (as Maeve O'Meara)
Wendy Page	....	assistant: Ms. Pfeffer, Los Angeles
Chris Palzis	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Matt Power	....	production assistant: Boston
Kim Quam	....	medic: Boston
John Radcliff	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Lucius T. Ramsey	....	assistant location manager: Boston
Brian Relyea	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Mark Riccardi	....	photo double: John Travolta
Mark Riccardi	....	stand-in: John Travolta
Bruce Richie	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Mark Roybal	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin, Los Angeles
Steven Samanen	....	script supervisor: second unit
John R. Saunders	....	production assistant: Los Angeles (as John Saunders)
Jan Schlichtmann	....	consultant: Los Angeles
Paul Schreiber	....	assistant location manager: Los Angeles
Derek Skaletsky	....	office production assistant: Los Angeles
Sol	....	craft service: Los Angeles
Charles Spector	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Rob Steiner	....	stand-in: Los Angeles
Sunday Stevens	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Lauren Beth Strogoff	....	unit publicist: Los Angeles (as Lauren Strogoff)
Susan Such	....	executive assistant: Mr. Travolta, Los Angeles
Laura Tateishi	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles (as Laura 'L.T.' Tateishi)
Michael F. Tavani	....	craft service: Boston
Donald H. Walker	....	production controller: Los Angeles
Beth Williams	....	post-production accountant: Los Angeles
Kelly Winn	....	craft service: Boston
Jacob M. Yellin	....	legal consultant: Los Angeles
Charles Zaillian	....	baseball consultant: Los Angeles
Lisa Arnone	....	script supervisor: Boston second unit (uncredited)
Lisa Arnone	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Kathleen Beall	....	location scout (uncredited)
Tony Brazas	....	stand-in: Mr. Travolta (uncredited)
Linda DaSilva	....	production coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Lacey Dean	....	location office coordinator: Boston (uncredited)
Benjamin C. Dewey	....	location scout (uncredited)
Gia Galligani	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tony Gardner	....	special properties (uncredited)
Grant Grabowski	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin (uncredited)
Erika Herzog	....	office production assistant: Scott Rudin Productions (uncredited)
Tony Kerum	....	caterer (uncredited)
Krystian Lagowski	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jerry Lee	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
James A. Mahathey	....	location scout: Pittsburgh (uncredited)
Allyn Partin	....	dialect coach (uncredited)
Michael Peavey	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Karen Stark	....	location scout (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)
Paul John Tirone	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul Cellucci	....	the producers wish to thank (as Governor Paul Cellucci)
Robin Dawson	....	the producers wish to thank
Marshall Goldberg	....	the producers wish to thank
Joe Mooney	....	the producers wish to thank
Gretchen Muench	....	the producers wish to thank: United States Environmental Protection Agency
Tom Stoppard	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures
• Paramount Pictures
• Wildwood Enterprises
• Scott Rudin Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical) (as Buena Vista Pictures Distribution)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Argentina)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Germany)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)
• United International Pictures (Far East)

Special Effects

• Alterian (uncredited)
• Illusion Arts (visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Drilling Services  geological technical consultant
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal trainer (as Birds & Animals)
• Boston Film Office, The  the producers wish to thank
• Boston Red Sox  the producers wish to thank
• Buena Vista Imaging  titles and opticals
• Central/Cennex Casting  extras casting: Los Angeles
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• City of Los Angeles  the producers wish to thank
• Collinge Pickman Casting  extras casting: Boston
• Fenway Park  the producers wish to thank
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack available on
• Hollywood Rental Company  electrical equipment (as Hollywood Rentals)
• J.L. Fisher  camera cranes and dollies
• Major League Baseball Properties  trademarks: Major League Baseball licensed by
• Massachusetts Film Office  the producers wish to thank
• Panavision  camera equipment supplied by
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  score recorded at (as Paramount Scoring Stage M)
• Pasadena Film Office  the producers wish to thank
• Signet Soundelux Studios  score mixed at
• Sony Scoring Stage  score recorded at
• Soundelux  post-production sound provided by
• The City of Long Beach  the producers wish to thank
• The City of Pasadena  the producers wish to thank
• The Los Angeles Film Commission  the producers wish to thank
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  the producers wish to thank (as United States Environmental Protection Agency)
• West Group  the producers wish to thank
• Zegna  select wardrobe: John Travolta

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #36309) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Norway:7 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Steven Zaillian adapted the screenplay with nobody else but Robert Duvall in mind for the role of Jerome Facher.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie when the woman comes out on her front porch and picks up the newspaper, she removes the rubber band and looks at the top half of the paper. In the next cut she is looking at the bottom half of the paper and in the very next cut she is looking at the top half again.

Quotes:

Jan Schlichtmann: The odds of a plaintiff's lawyer winning in civil court are two to one against. Think about that for a second. Your odds of surviving a game of Russian roulette are better than winning a case at trial. 12 times better. So why does anyone do it? They don't...

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Take Me to the River

Thankfully not another pretty conversation piece

I'm usually put off by courtroom films simply because I associate them with either the tendency for pompous and ornate speech-making a la "A Few Good Men," or cheap audience-manipulation a la "Primal Fear." Yes, they are entertaining, usually with great actors and fine performances - thinking man's thrillers. But generally they remain nothing more than that - a well-done conversation piece.

"A Civil Action" was a pleasant surprise because it is not only like neither of those films, but also because it is a good film starring John Travolta. While he had his moments in the spotlight for good reason (think: "Pulp Fiction") his movies are generally not that great. But that's just a personal opinion and I may be wrong.

Still, "A Civil Action" is a great courtroom film. For one, it's a true story (which doesn't necessarily say much), and it is told with restraint, quietness and respect for the characters involved (which should be saying a lot). It takes the best from "Silkwood" and "Verdict" and it gives us people who are real and who engage in battle the way we imagine real people would. They don't have dramatic moments in the courtroom upon which an unreal stillness descends so as to be shattered at the end of the speech by the thunderous sound of unanimous, emotionally-fraught clapping.

John Travolta is great here and so is the rest of the cast, among them William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, Sydney Pollack, John Lithgow, Stephen Fry (in a small cameo role), Kathy Bates (in an even smaller cameo role) and the great Robert Duvall. In the end, it is Duvall who steals the show in his quiet, unemotional musings, advice-givings and deliberations with Travolta. He embodies the restraint for which the film strives.

"A Civil Action" is quiet in its proceedings and, consequently real. It tells the story of a lawyer who reluctantly accepts a case having to do with the contamination of water and the deaths of many children in a small town and becomes obsessed with it to the point of going bankrupt. His obsession mirrors the self-destructiveness of Paul Newman's lawyer in "Verdict," and it has real results. His adversaries are not evil people, per se (think Jack Nicholson in "A Few Good Men"), but people who are simply doing their jobs damn well, defending their interests. We shouldn't expect them to cave in to pretty speech-making, nor should the jury.

And watching "A Civil Action" we don't and it doesn't. The personalities clash, personal tragedy is pitted against financial burdens of the legal process, and it yields startling conclusions about the American Justice system. And that is what "A Civil Action" chooses to focus on more so than the true story it tells (though it doesn't ignore it either). The film shows the price of justice and how justice is understood in the legal process. In fact, it draws a very fine dichotomy between non-legal justice and legal justice and shows how hard it is to get "justice" in a legal setting. Needless to say, it becomes a very expensive ordeal full of re-interpretations of the law and annoying manipulations of it. What we can gather from the story, however, is that we should be grateful for people who are willing to go to extreme lengths, at great personal cost, to define justice on their own terms and to fight for it.