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.
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. gregory ratoff james bond rights relinquished
The Forgotten Mogul: How Gregory Ratoff Relinquished the Crown Jewels of Spy Cinema Next time you watch Bond order a vodka