October 21, 1954 –
The episode of Climax!, an anthology series – broadcast live, on this evening was the first time. James Bond (Barry Nelson) appeared on-screen in Casino Royale, and more than half a century later Bond is still making movies.
Ian Fleming received three offers for the movie rights to his Casino Royale novel during 1954. The producer and director Gregory Ratoff bought the rights to the novel in May 1954 for six hundred dollars. It was a six month option, and Ratoff took this to CBS who produced and broadcast this one hour episode for Climax!. CBS purchased the rights to the Ian Fleming novel for one thousand dollars. John Shepridge negotiated the sale of the movie and television rights in 1954. Before the sale, the Casino Royale novel had not been successful, and was even re-titled and Americanized for its paperback issue. Fleming also needed money. Twelve months later, and after the television screening, Ratoff bought Casino Royale outright in perpetuity for an additional six thousand dollars. Both sales, including the option and the buy-out, are considered to have been sold too cheaply, and were two sales that Ian Fleming regretted.
The Haus of Dcaligari 