The Brute

Back when cable TV was new (early 1980s) some of the movie channels were airing obscure British films like this to fill time slots. Most of the them (like this one) were pretty good. It deals with Diana Shepherd (Sarah Douglas) being routinely beaten by her sadistic husband Teddy (Julian Glover). She realizes she can't deal with it anymore and leaves...but Teddy won't let her have their child Timmy.

The beatings themselves are (pretty obviously) faked but this does deal with an touchy subject matter with taste and intelligence. This is much better than the TV movies over here dealing with the same subject back then. The acting is good across the board and it does have a happy and believable ending. No great shakes but it's stayed with me for almost 30 years! Recommended.