A Civil Action (film)

A Civil Action
A Civil Action
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Steven Zaillian
Written by	Steven Zaillian
Based on	A Civil Action; by Jonathan Harr
Produced by	Scott Rudin; Robert Redford; Rachel Pfeffer;
Starring	John Travolta; Robert Duvall; James Gandolfini; Dan Hedaya; John Lithgow; William H. Macy; Kathleen Quinlan; Tony Shalhoub;
Cinematography	Conrad L. Hall
Edited by	Wayne Wahrman
Music by	Danny Elfman
Production; companies	Touchstone Pictures; Paramount Pictures; Wildwood Enterprises, Inc;
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures Distribution; (United States and Canada); Paramount Pictures (through United International Pictures; International);
Release date	December 25, 1998;
Running time	115 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$75 million
Box office	$56 million

A Civil Action is a 1998 American legal drama film directed and written by Steven Zaillian and starring John Travolta with Robert Duvall, James Gandolfini, Dan Hedaya, John Lithgow, William H. Macy, Kathleen Quinlan, and Tony Shalhoub. Based on the 1995 book by Jonathan Harr, 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.