EDITOR’S NOTE: As the journey through Cannon continues, this week we’re exploring the films of 21st Century Film Corporation, which would be the company that Menahem Golan would take over after Cannon. Formed by Tom Ward and Art Schweitzer in 1971 (or 1976, there are some disputed expert opinions), 21st Century had a great logo and released some wild stuff.

Based on The Vulture is a Patient Bird by James Hadley Chase, at the time, this was the most expensive movie made in Bollywood. In addition to stars such as Dharmendra, Zeenat Aman and Shammi Kapoor, imported actors like Rex Harrison, John Saxon and Sylvia Miles all get in on the action.

Sir John Locksley (Rex Harrison), the greatest jewel thief in the world, decides his most prized possession, the Shalimar Ruby, should be passed on to a worthy successor. He invites every other master jewel thief in the world to his island estate to participate in a deadly contest.

Yes, this feels like the set-up for a Jess Franco movie. Instead, it’s a Bollywood action film with Countess Rasmussen (Miles), Col. Columbus (Saxon), Dr. Kuhkari (Kapoor), Romeo (OP Ralhan) and Raja Bahadur Singh all fighting to win that prized stone. Well, Singh dies right away, so SS Kumar (Dharmendra) takes his place. I mean, that diamond was worth $135 million in 1978, so you can figure out why everyone is trying to murder each other.

Directed by Krishna Shah, who made his name on Broadway, this had unique cuts for India and the U.S. The American version was released by 21st Century as Raiders of the Sacred Stone and Raiders of the Shalimar. They also re-released another Shad movie, The River Niger. He’d go on to direct, write and produce American Drive-In and Hard Rock Zombies.

The story came from Stanford Sherman, who also wrote Any Which Way You Can, Krull and The Ice Pirates.