Men Don't Tell

In this heroic effort to show another side of domestic violence, Judith Light, who plays the main character, found herself learning about a situation she'd never dreamed was possible. Yet it is true--there are violent women, and just as the character played by Peter Strauss finds, there is no help for male victims. Light and Strauss give honest portrayals of people caught in an ugly situation.

Although it was fairly accurate for the time regarding police involvement and other details,laws have changed since this movie was made, rendering many details obsolete. Still, it is the *only* movie of its kind, daring to recognize a hidden, albeit politically incorrect reality.

I've worked with battered men for over 10 years and know that this is a significant problem, but there is an even worse one. Violent mothers account for 55% of fatal child abuse, even when custody and time spent with the children are taken into consideration, according to the US Justice Dept. study, "Murder in Families." Fathers account for 8%, stepmothers/girlfriends for 9%, and stepfathers/boyfriends for 10%. We are working on building a shelter for fathers and children in Kansas City, but it is a slow process, but one is needed. Studies on domestic violence against women show that 39% of the victims are men, but you only find that out by looking at the charts that come with the studies. The summaries don't mention this, preferring to only address violence against women.

Judith Light and Peter Strauss bravely take on challenging, unflattering roles in this television drama for CBS: she as the domineering wife who verbally and physically attacks her spouse, he as the blue-collar husband and father being humiliated and abused. Issue-of-the-week family portrait from writers Selma Thompson and Jeff Andrus, its subject matter handled with a startling directness by Harry Winer. Not a pleasant watch, but effective for what it is. Fine supporting cast includes Carroll Baker, Noble Willingham, Ashley Johnson, and James Gammon. Strauss was Golden Globe-nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Made for Television. ** from ****

I love to watch violence just like anyone else who is a desentized freak of my generation. I thought this movie was going to like any other domestic abuse shocker, cept it was about a GUY!, i realized after the first half hour that this was as a real concern as female abuse and that it was real, it broke some mental barriers and also showed how even after the struggle and shocking abuse this man(a 9-5er)can also heal.

It was able to show reality, sadness and pain. It was a real heart tugger

Good film from begining to end, it shows that men can be victims of abuse too. There needs to be more movies addressing this subject and more conversations about abuse against men. The movie does a good job of showing how and why men don't tell about the abuse, because they are afraid of not being believe and being seen as weak.