It was 1997. Charles Bronson was 75 years old, looking every bit the weathered icon of American cinema, and somehow still anchoring a made-for-TV movie with more grit than half the stuff in theaters today. Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II wasn't trying to reinvent the wheel. It was a sequel that knew exactly what it was: a meat-and-potatoes police procedural that leaned heavily on the "family" part of the title. Honestly, if you grew up watching Bronson as the indomitable Paul Kersey in the Death Wish series, seeing him play Paul Fein—a seasoned Police Commissioner in Milwaukee—felt like a weirdly comforting evolution. He was still the law. He just had a bigger desk and more kids to worry about.
The plot kicks off with a murder that feels personal because, in the Fein family, everything is personal. A priest is killed. But it’s not just any priest; he’s a friend of the family, specifically linked to the Russian Orthodox community. This puts the Fein clan—Paul (Charles Bronson), his son Ben (Joe Penny), and the rest of the law enforcement-heavy brood—right in the crosshairs of the Russian Mafia.
What really happened with the Fein family's second outing?
Sequels are usually a letdown. We know this. But this film managed to keep the chemistry that made the first one work. It didn't just focus on the gunfights. It focused on the dinner table.
Director David Greene, who also helmed the first installment, understood that the audience wasn't just there to see Bronson shoot a pistol. They wanted to see the internal friction of a family where everyone has a badge but nobody agrees on how to use it. You've got Paul Fein trying to maintain the integrity of the department while his kids are out in the trenches, often pushing the boundaries of what's legal to get results.
The Russian Mafia angle provided a fresh antagonist compared to the more standard street thugs of the era. These weren't just guys in leather jackets; they were a structured, cold-blooded organization that didn't care about the Fein family legacy. This escalated the stakes. It wasn't just about solving a crime. It was about surviving a targeted hit on the family unit.
The Charles Bronson Factor
Let’s be real for a second. By the late 90s, Bronson’s health was starting to become a topic of conversation in Hollywood circles. This was one of his final roles before he retired from acting. You can see it in his eyes. There’s a certain weariness that fits the character of Paul Fein perfectly. He isn't the guy jumping over fences anymore. He’s the guy who has seen it all and knows that most "wins" in the world of law enforcement come with a heavy price tag.
His performance is understated. Minimalist, even.
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Bronson’s style was always about what he didn't say. In Breach of Faith: A Family of Cops II, he uses that silence to project authority. When he tells his son to back off a lead, you feel the weight of decades of experience. It’s that old-school masculinity that doesn't need to shout to be heard.
Why the Russian Mafia plot line worked (and why it didn't)
The 90s were obsessed with the "Red Mafia." After the fall of the Soviet Union, every crime show and movie decided that Russian mobsters were the new go-to villains. Sometimes it felt like a caricature. In this film, though, the threat felt genuine because of the religious undertone.
The murder of the priest wasn't just a random act of violence. It was a breach of the community’s soul.
- The Conflict: The movie explores the tension between old-world traditions and new-world corruption.
- The Pacing: It moves like a standard 90s TV movie—it’s not a frenetic action flick. It takes its time.
- The Stakes: Because the Feins are a "family of cops," the professional becomes the personal very quickly.
However, some critics at the time felt the movie leaned too hard into the melodrama. If you aren't a fan of family disputes being hashed out over sirens and crime scene tape, this might feel a bit soap-opera-ish. But for those of us who appreciate the procedural genre, that’s exactly what makes it watchable. It’s about the burden of the badge.
Joe Penny and the supporting cast
Joe Penny, known for Jake and the Fatman, brings a different energy to the screen. He’s the aggressive, boots-on-the-ground detective who acts as the foil to Bronson’s more measured Commissioner. Their dynamic is the engine of the movie. Penny’s character, Ben, is often the one getting his hands dirty, and the friction between his methods and his father’s expectations provides the necessary "breach of faith" mentioned in the title.
Sebastian Spence and Barbara Williams also return, filling out the family tree. It’s rare for a TV sequel to keep the entire original cast together, but they managed it here. That continuity is basically why the movie works as a cohesive story rather than a cheap cash-in. You believe these people have spent Christmases together. You believe they’ve fought over the same stuff for twenty years.
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The Milwaukee setting
Most crime dramas are set in New York, L.A., or Chicago. Setting the Family of Cops trilogy in Milwaukee gave it a distinct flavor. It’s a blue-collar city. The architecture, the weather, and the general vibe of the film feel grounded. It doesn't have the glitz of a Michael Bay movie. It’s gray, cold, and a bit gritty.
The production didn't shy away from the city's identity. They used the local landscape to emphasize the "everyman" nature of the Fein family. They aren't superheroes. They are public servants who happen to be related.
What people get wrong about Breach of Faith
Many viewers dismiss this film as just another "late-career Bronson movie." That’s a mistake.
While it’s true that it was produced for CBS and follows certain TV-movie conventions—like the act breaks designed for commercials—it’s much more of a character study than people give it credit for. It addresses the moral ambiguity of police work. It asks: what do you do when the law you sworn to protect prevents you from doing what’s right?
That "breach" isn't just about the criminals. It’s about the cracks in the system itself.
Looking back at the legacy
This was the middle child of a trilogy. It sat between the 1995 original and the 1999 finale, A Family of Cops III: Under Suspicion. Often, the second movie in a series is where things start to go off the rails, but David Greene kept a tight lid on the production.
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It’s a time capsule of 1997 television.
There are no smartphones. No high-tech forensics labs with glowing blue lights. Just old-fashioned detective work, shoe-leather reporting, and a whole lot of brooding from Charles Bronson. If you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia or a reminder of why Bronson was such a powerhouse even in his twilight years, this is the film to watch.
Actionable ways to enjoy the trilogy today
If you're planning on diving into the world of the Fein family, don't just jump into the second one. To really appreciate the character arcs, you should watch them in order. The evolution of the children’s careers—from patrol officers to detectives—is a slow burn that pays off by the end of the third movie.
Check your streaming services. These films often rotate through platforms like Tubi, Pluto TV, or Amazon Prime’s "free with ads" sections. They are perfect "Saturday afternoon" movies.
Pay attention to the background details in the Milwaukee scenes. For those who know the city, seeing 1990s Milwaukee captured on film is a treat in itself. The locations feel lived-in and authentic to the period.
Finally, watch Bronson’s performance closely. He knew his career was winding down. There’s a quiet dignity in how he handled the role of Paul Fein, shifting from the vigilante of his youth to the elder statesman of the law. It’s a masterclass in aging gracefully in an industry that usually discards its legends.
Next Steps for Fans
- Locate the full trilogy: It’s often sold as a "3-movie collection" on DVD, which is usually the best way to ensure you’re getting the unedited versions.
- Research David Greene: If you like the pacing of this movie, check out his other work, like Roots or Rich Man, Poor Man. He was a titan of television directing for a reason.
- Contextualize the "Death Wish" era: Compare Paul Fein to Paul Kersey. It’s a fascinating look at how the same actor can interpret "the law" through two completely different lenses—one of vengeance and one of institutional duty.
- Explore Joe Penny's filmography: If you enjoyed the father-son dynamic, Penny has a wealth of 80s and 90s crime drama work that carries a similar vibe.