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.

It’s bad enough in these movies that the antagonists keep burning down the Shaolin temple. Now, the villains are working with the Russians, who bring General Tolstoy (Roy Horan) and his guns to battle their fists. All because China and Russia are trying to sign a peace treaty and show people want non-stop war and an invasion of Manchuria.

Yet for all I know about the martial world, I had no idea what a snuff bottle was of what it has to do with this movie. Well, I learned.

Snuff bottles were used during this time to hold powdered tobacco, which was illegal. However, snuff was used as a remedy for colds, headaches and stomach disorders. It was carried in a small bottle, instead of a box like in Europe. They were pieces of fine art and some even had painting inside the bottle.

Because the Russians can’t tell the Chinese factions apart, the bad guys show them a snuff bottle when they meet so they don’t fight. I guess that makes sense and is also kind of racist.

The hero is John Liu, who would one day be New York Ninja, Dragon Blood, Ninja In the Claws of the CIA and the hero who is there when Zen Kwan Do Strikes Paris. He gets to battle Hwang Jang Lee, all choreographed by Yuen Woo Ping. There’s also another good guy, Kao (Yip Fei-Yang), who is the master of daggers and a child thief named Xiao (Wong Yat Lung).

Kind of cool to see foreign bad guys in the time before Hong Kong movies became about the present and not the past. And now, you too know what a snuff bottle is.

You can watch this on Tubi.