Sept. 5, 1961 - Laurence Harvey has been signed for the title role in "The Manchurian Candidate," the Richard Condon novel, which will be filmed early next year with Frank Sinatra heading the cast. George Axelrod, the playwright-turned-Hollywood-producer, said he had completed a screenplay for the psychological suspense drama dealing with "a brainwashed Korean War veteran who works as an unwitting spy during the McCarthy era." Discussions are being held with Anne Bancroft to play the unconventional girl who marries Mr. Harvey in the film. Mr. Sinatra will play an army officer who befriends him.
