A FAMILY OF COPS

US, 1996, 95 minutes, Colour.
Charles Bronson, Daniel Baldwin, Angela Featherstone, John Vernon, Lesley Ann Down.
Directed by Ted Kotcheff.

A Family of Cops is the first of three telemovies starring Charles Bronson. He portrays a still active detective, patriarch of his family in which two of his children are police, one is a defence lawyer, the other is just mixed up (but in the sequel she joins the police also).

The setting is Milwaukee, a focus on gangsters, on rich women who can hire murderers to kill their husbands, dangers in the city, threats to life and health of the family. The material is fairly conventional though it focuses on the bonds and tensions within this Jewish- American family. Direction is by Ted Kotcheff (who made such interesting films as Wake in Fright).

1.The popularity of police television films and series? The focus on police work? The focus on the family and its bonds, dangers?

2.The Milwaukee settings, the city, bars, mansions, ordinary homes, hospitals? An authentic atmosphere?

3.The title and the double focus on the police and the family?

4.Charles Bronson as Paul Vein? The veteran detective? Widower, memories of his wife? His relationship with his children? The two in the police, the dangers and the injuries to Ben, warning Ed that he should not have been a policeman? Kate and her work in defence? Jacquie and her seeming irresponsibility? Inviting them to his birthday party? The reaction of each of his children? Their set-up in the bar, Ben coming down for a drink, the arrest of Paul? Reactions - especially of Frank Rippola? The impact of the millionaire's death? Jacquie and her presence? The interrogation, warnings, beginnings of a possible cover-up? Paul and his reactions, getting his children to work? The suspicions of Mrs Novachek? The visit, the arrest, the interrogation, the doubts, the visit to the former wife, her interrogation? The pursuit of the assassin, the shooting of Ben, hospital, the new lead, the ambush, his being shot, final confession? His going back to Mrs Novachek, the final talk, Hemingway, suicide? The bonds with the family and his continued support?

5.Novachek, the millionaire, the encounter with Jacquie, her being sick, his taking her to the hotel, their night together, his death? His first wife and his supporting her in the asylum? His second wife and her charity work, style, luxury? Her denials, being put upon? The interrogations, her sympathy with Paul, his taking her out the back entrance away from the press? The final confrontation, her decision to kill herself?

6.The gangster element in Milwaukee, Paul and his arrest, the young hoods? Frank Rippola and his influence, trading of information with Paul? The interrogations in the various bars, the bikies?

7.Ben and his family, his support of them, the investigation, Jacquie and her behaviour? His being shot, hospital, recovery? His wife and children? His wife and her fears of being a policeman's wife, her support of Celia?

8.Kate, her defence work, her clients? Her feelings of responsibility for the family? Her antagonism towards Jacquie, Jacquie staying with her? Offhand behaviour in the hospital?

9.Ed, his relationship with Celia, young and enthusiastic, in action, the interrogation in the bar?

10.Jacquie, her background, mixed up, California, antagonism towards her father? The return, her friend in the hotel, Novachek, the party and her reconciliation, drinking, being sick, Novachek taking her to the hotel, her not knowing what happened? (And the assassin saying that he spared her.) The interrogations, in jail, the court hearing, bail? Supporting Celia at Melanie's house? Her resolutions - and the possibility of her becoming a policewoman?

11.The informants, the assassins, the cheque and the revelation about Mrs Novachek?

12.Themes of police work, upholding the law, justice, police methods? The courts? The repercussions for family?