Sarah Douglas, Suzanne Stone - The Brute (1977)

"The Brute" (1977), directed by Gerry O’Hara, is a British crime-drama film that includes elements of exploitation cinema, notably featuring nude scenes with actresses Sarah Douglas and Suzanne Stone. Sarah Douglas, who plays Diane, a glamour model trapped in an abusive marriage, appears in several scenes with nudity, including full-frontal shots and moments of partial exposure during intimate or violent sequences. One notable instance occurs early in the film when her character is attacked by her husband, and her nightgown reveals her breasts as she flees. Later, there are additional scenes, such as one in a barn where she is depicted having sex, showcasing her nude body in a more explicit context. Suzanne Stone, portraying Carrie, the girlfriend of Diane’s photographer friend Mark, also has nude moments, including a scene where she removes Diane’s dress, briefly exposing Douglas’s breasts, and other instances where her own nudity is featured, though typically less prominently than Douglas’s.
The film’s use of nudity has been a point of discussion due to its blend of serious subject matter—domestic violence—with sexploitation elements, a common trait in 1970s British cinema during a challenging period for the industry. The original UK theatrical release was heavily censored, cutting many of the explicit sex scenes, though the violence remained intact. Later releases, like the 2022 UK BBFC limited edition Blu-ray, restored these scenes, offering an uncut version (minus a psychiatrist prologue, relegated to special features). This restoration highlights the extent of the nudity, which was likely amplified to market the film commercially despite its grim themes.