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 .
However, he didn't walk away empty-handed. In a move that screams "Old Hollywood," Ratoff made a gentleman’s agreement with Fleming: In exchange for waiving his renewal, Ratoff retained a small percentage of future profits and, crucially, the right of first refusal on Casino Royale specifically. gregory ratoff james bond rights relinquished
By 1955, Ratoff’s option was expiring. Rather than renew a property he couldn't sell to studios,
The Forgotten Mogul: How Gregory Ratoff Relinquished the Crown Jewels of Spy Cinema When Broccoli and Saltzman formed Eon Productions, they
Fleming, desperate to get his hero on screen, agreed. He then sold the rights to all future Bond books to a pair of producers you might have heard of: Broccoli and Saltzman.
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. The rest is history
Why isn't Ratoff’s name on the Dr. No poster? Because when he relinquished the general rights, he only kept Casino Royale .