On-location shooting of "Murder at Harvard" will begin March 1 if the University gives Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer permission to go ahead with the semi-documentary film based on the Department of Legal Medicine at the Medical School, Hollywood producer Frank Taylor said last night.

Dr. Alan R. Moritz, Frances Glessner Lee Professor of Legal Medicine and head of the department, will be asked to appear in the first full length feature over filmed in Boston, Taylor said.

Dr. Moritz said last night that he and members of his staff would be willing to go along with MGM plans if the script were suitable.

Decision Expected Soon

MGM will not begin casting until a final agreement with the University is reached, Taylor said. An official decision from University Hall is expected by next week.

"Murder at Harvard" 'will deal with the department's activities in assisting the state police in murder cases involving pathological research, Dr. Moritz's speciality. In its strictly factual approach, Taylor said, it will resemble "Boomerang," MGM's successful 1946 courtroom drama.

Murder on Cape Cod

A fictitious killing at Hyannis, on Cape Cod, will serve as the basis of the plot, Taylor said. Further details of the plot were unavailable last night, since the latest edition of the script had not reached Taylor's desk.

This Week Magazine gave MGM its original idea for "Murder at Harvard" with an article of the same name in the issue of January 25, 1948.