Next time you watch Bond order a vodka martini, spare a thought for Gregory Ratoff. He was the man who held the keys to the kingdom—and politely handed them back before the door was unlocked.
If Ratoff had held onto the rights, James Bond might have been a forgotten B-movie character from the 1950s. Instead, by letting go, he allowed the franchise to fall into the hands that built the legend. gregory ratoff james bond rights relinquished
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. Next time you watch Bond order a vodka
Why isn't Ratoff’s name on the Dr. No poster? Because when he relinquished the general rights, he only kept Casino Royale . Instead, by letting go, he allowed the franchise
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.