A Civil Action (1998)

***A Civil Action*** is a 1998 American legal drama film written and directed by Steven Zaillian, based on the 1995 book of the same name by Jonathan Harr. Starring John Travolta, Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, and Tony Shalhoub, it tells the true story of a court case about environmental pollution that took place in Woburn, Massachusetts in the 1980s. The film and court case revolve around the issue of trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent, and its contamination of a local aquifer. A lawsuit was filed over industrial operations that appeared to have caused fatal cases of leukemia and cancer, as well as a wide variety of other health problems, among the citizens of the city. The case involved is *Anne Anderson, et al., v. Cryovac, Inc., et al.*. The first reported decision in the case is at 96 F.R.D. 431 (denial of defendants' motion to dismiss). Duvall was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

## Shooting

* Filming was from October 7th, 1997 - February 25th, 1998.

## 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 - Dr. George F. 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)
* Nicole Nikki Belli - Girl (uncredited)
* Steve Bertorelli - Red Sox Fan (uncredited)
* Tommy Bull
* Melissa Calheno - Girl Dancing with Jan Schlichtmann (uncredited)
* Jerry Clower - Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
* Tom Cutler - Lawyer (uncredited)
* Amy Dowd - Featured Dancer on Bridge (uncredited)
* Lana Ford - Francine Conway (uncredited)
* John Franchi - Construction worker (uncredited)
* Bryan Greenberg - Firecracker Kid (uncredited)
* Phil Hawn - Attorney in Courtroom Gallery (uncredited)
* Aaron Henry - Al Love's Son (uncredited)
* Edward Herrmann
* Robert Hofmann - Harvard Club businessman (uncredited)
* Sheila Korsi - Cashier (uncredited)
* Sarah Krasner - Lawyer (uncredited)
* Richie LaMontagne
* Robbie Martin - Al Love's Son (uncredited)
* Jorge Mendonca - Fan at Fenway Park (uncredited)
* Dane Moreton - Student (uncredited)
* Blake Neitzel - Boy in Classroom (uncredited)
* Collin Pelton - Sports Fan (uncredited)
* Dale Resteghini - Fenway Park Fan (uncredited)
* Lisa Rhyne - Grieving Mother (uncredited)
* Guy Richardson - Family Member Litigate (uncredited)
* Brian Rivers - Fan at Fenway Park (uncredited)
* Julia Roberts - Fenway Park Fan (uncredited)
* Gary Rodriguez - Juror (uncredited)
* Rocco Salata - Diner Patron (uncredited)
* Racheal Seymour - Car Accident Woman (uncredited)
* Harry Dean Stanton - Land Watcher (uncredited)