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."

References

External links
Lean Liberty at IMDB
Lean Liberty at BFI

1962 television plays