Gregory Ratoff James Bond Rights Relinquished File

When Broccoli and Saltzman formed Eon Productions, they wanted to start with Casino Royale , but Ratoff’s lingering claim made it legally impossible. So, they pivoted to Dr. No instead. The rest is history.

Gregory Ratoff was a Hollywood heavyweight in the 1940s, known for his heavy accent and larger-than-life personality (he famously directed All About Eve ’s non-stage sequences). In the mid-1950s, Ratoff saw potential in Fleming’s novels. He purchased an option for the film rights to Casino Royale . gregory ratoff james bond rights relinquished

Ratoff died in 1960, never seeing the Bond phenomenon explode. His estate, however, still held the messy rights to Casino Royale . That led to the 1967 spoof version starring David Niven—a chaotic, psychedelic mess that Ratoff’s widow sold off for a reported $1,000. When Broccoli and Saltzman formed Eon Productions, they

Why isn't Ratoff’s name on the Dr. No poster? Because when he relinquished the general rights, he only kept Casino Royale . The rest is history

But Ratoff wasn’t interested in a franchise. He wanted a vehicle for his friend, the American actor Gregory Peck. Ratoff’s vision for Bond was reportedly much more comedic and less lethal than the character Fleming wrote. Unfortunately for Ratoff—but fortunately for history—he couldn’t get the financing off the ground.