Why isn't Ratoff’s name on the Dr. No poster? Because when he relinquished the general rights, he only kept Casino Royale .
When we think of the men who controlled the fate of James Bond, names like Albert R. "Cubby" Broccoli, Harry Saltzman, and Kevin McClory immediately spring to mind. But before the gunbarrel sequence ever existed, the film rights to Ian Fleming’s literary sensation were held by an unlikely character: a boisterous, Russian-born actor-director named Gregory Ratoff. gregory ratoff james bond rights relinquished
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. Why isn't Ratoff’s name on the Dr
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 . When we think of the men who controlled