 Ian Fleming (I) (qv) received three offers for the film rights to  his "Casino Royale" novel during 1954. Producer and Director  Gregory Ratoff (qv) bought the rights to the novel in May 1954 for  $600. It was a six month option and Ratoff took this to CBS whom  produced and broadcast this one hour episode for  _"Climax!" (1954)_ (qv) [See: _"Climax!" (1954)  {Casino Royale (#1.3)}_ (qv)]. CBS purchased the rights to the  Ian Fleming (I) (qv) novel for $1000. John Shepridge negotiated  the sale of the film and television rights in 1954. Before the sale,  the "Casino Royale" novel had not been successful, and was even  retitled and Americanized for its paperback issue. Fleming also  needed money. Twelve months later, and after the TV screening,  Ratoff bought "Casino Royale" outright in perpetuity for an  additional $6000. Both sales including the option and the buy