 Ernest Lehman (qv) became the films scriptwriter following a  lunchtime meeting with Alfred Hitchcock (I) (qv), arranged by  their mutual friend, composer Bernard Herrmann (I) (qv). Hitchcock  originally wanted him to work on his new project  _Wreck of the Mary Deare, The (1959)_ (qv) (which was eventually  made instead by Michael Anderson (I) (qv)), but Lehman refused.  Hitchcock was so keen to work with him that he suggested they work  together on a different film using Mary Deares budget (without  MGMs approval) even though he had only three ideas to set Lehman on  his way: mistaken identity, the United Nations building, and a chase  scene across the faces of Mt. Rushmore.