Gregory Ratoff James Bond Film Rights 2021 – Easy & Ultimate

In 1954, Ratoff optioned the film rights to Casino Royale from Fleming for a paltry (plus $6,000 for a full purchase later). Think about that. For less than the cost of a used car today, Ratoff briefly owned the future of pop culture.

When we think of the origins of James Bond on screen, we picture Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman shaking hands at a London casino table in 1961. We hear John Barry’s brass fanfare. We see Sean Connery’s silhouette.

Following Ratoff's death, the rights were acquired by his former agent and friend, producer , who purchased them from Ratoff's widow and Michael Garrison for $75,000 in 1961. HeinOnline Everything or Nothing: The Copyright History of James Bond gregory ratoff james bond film rights

Next time you watch Casino Royale (the good one, with Daniel Craig), raise a shaken-not-stirred martini to Gregory Ratoff. Without his mistake, Eon might never have learned what not to do. And without his initial belief, Bond might have stayed on the page forever.

His legacy is tragicomic:

In 1961, Gregory Ratoff acquired the film rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond novels from Fleming himself. Ratoff's company, Ratoff-Golden Films, secured the rights to adapt the first James Bond novel, "Casino Royale," into a film. At the time, Ratoff envisioned a more lighthearted and comedic take on the character, which differed from the tone that would eventually be adopted in the official Eon Productions series.

Because Ratoff was a director, not a mogul. He had no studio backing. He shopped Casino Royale around Hollywood like a used car salesman pitching a prototype. Studios were baffled. In 1954, Ratoff optioned the film rights to

Gregory Ratoff was involved in the early development of the James Bond film series. In 1961, Ratoff acquired the film rights to Ian Fleming's James Bond novels, intending to produce a film adaptation of "Dr. No," the third Bond novel. However, Ratoff's option on the rights was eventually sold to Cubby Broccoli and his partner, Harry Saltzman, who went on to produce the first James Bond film, "Dr. No" (1962), and many subsequent films in the series.