Lean Liberty

Lean Liberty is a 1962 British television play. It was written, directed by and starred expatriate Australians.

Plot
Peter Jameson is an engineer who has to answer a loyalty oath. If he does not comply and admits he was a communist when younger his job is at risk. His old communist friend suggests an opportunity to live and work in China. Peter realizes he will be facing the same dilemma in a different form over there.

Cast

 * Bruce Stewart as Peter Jameson
 * Betty Lucas as Rose Jameson
 * Peter Bathurst as Mr. Walker
 * Tom Bowman as Mr. Reilly
 * Barry Linehan as General manager
 * Reg Lye as Mr. Thompson
 * Derek Martinus as Greg Ross
 * George Roubicek as Mr. Cole
 * John Tate as Nick Storey
 * Ken Wayne as Mr. Warner

Production
Alan Seymour was originally commissioned to write the play for ABC television in Australia. It was based on a true story about an engineer in Tasmania.

However the script was rejected by the ABC as being too controversial. When he went to London to attend the opening of his play One Day of the Year he was asked if he had any television plays and Seymour offered Lean Liberty. The play was purchased and it launched the British career of Seymour and director Ray Menmuir.

Reception
The Daily Telegraph said "the author showed his strength perhaps a little too late to make an entirely satisfactory play. But the dilemma of the man who stubbornly pursues a course down the middle of the road was stressed effectively at the end."