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Drago (Diego) Montalban (1907-1939) was a pulp novel writer of Peruvian descent whose gothic noir tale "Dudas Gravas" has been at the centre of copyright wrangles and bidding wars since it was privately published in 1939. Over the years, attempts have been made to adapt the work into films and opera productions but none have succeeded. Orson Welles, Preston Sturges, Bernard Herrmann and even Frank Zappa tried and failed in mysterious circumstances, usually involving a fire or accident in the studio or dressing room. In 1979 a Scottish film student, Sandy Johnson, managed to complete a short film adaptation titled "Never Say Die!" but the film has rarely been seen after a debut at the London Film Festival in 1980.
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