The Scarlatti Inheritance is the first of 27 thriller novels written (the last four of them left in the form of manuscripts, later finalized by ghost writers) by American author Robert Ludlum.

From there, the book takes itself back a few decades, and tells the story of a corrupt American soldier, his billionaire mother, and an agent working for one of the smallest secret service departments in the world.

James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli purchased film rights either before or shortly after publication.

Ludlum, who had film and theatre experience, said "I didn't leave that crowd of ocelots to go back into it."

However Grade says Bergman decided to pull out because of the long production schedule that would be involved and the film did not eventuate.