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Shalimar
Raiders of the Sacred Stone
India/USA 1978
produced by Suresh Shah, Bhupendra Shah (executive), Ranveer Singh (executive) for Judson Productions
directed by Krishna Shah
starring Dharmendra, Zeenat Aman, Rex Harrison, Sylvia Miles, John Saxon, O.P.Ralhan, Shammi Kapoor, Prem Nath, Sheeram Lagoo, Aruna Irani, Clyde Chai-Fa, M.B.Shetty, Phunsok Ladhakhi, Anita, Jayamalini
story by Krishna Shah, Stanford Sherman, screenplay by Krishna Shah, Momin Khan, Hriday Lani, music by Rahul Dev Burman, Kersi Lord
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
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Because he is dying, master criminal Sir John (Rex Harrison) invites
five masterthieves to his private island to try and steal his most valued
possession, the Ruby of Shalimar - which is not only guarded by his
slaves but also by an elaborate system of landmines and electronic
failsaves. So the first two contestants, mute Colonel Columbus (John
Saxon) - in camouflage - and acrobatic Countess Rasmussen (Sylvia Miles)
are quickly disposed of, even though both of them almost succeed into
snatching the stone. Sir John however shows his true colours when he has
the third contestant, Doctor Bukhari (Shammi Kapoor) killed even though
his guards had already detained him and he had already given up. And when
another contestant, Romeo (O.P.Ralhan), wants to quit, Sir John himself
even kills him in cold blood. Because you see, Sir John is not really
terminally ill, he just wanted to get rid of the criminals he thought
capable of stealing the ruby - and now he puts the pressure on his
last contestant, angry young man Kumar (Dharmendra), who he knows is
in love with his assistant Sheila (Zeenat Aman), which means he has to be
dealt with extra carefully. But Kumar is nothing if not capable, using
every trick in the book to escape Sir John's surveillance cameras and his
snipers, and after a long chase sequence he does not only make it off the
island alive, he also takes the ruby and Sheila with him. And in the end,
he reveals himself to be a gouvernment agent. And Sir John, you might
ask? He falls prey to a slave uprising, enticed by Doctor Bukhari, who
only faked his own death.
Probably the first
Bollywood-Hollywood cooperation, two film industries that on the surface
seem to not have all that much in common - but the result is pretty
pleasing, an entertaining, at times even funny heist movie, shot
comicbook-style in bright colours ... which fits the movie's comicbook-style
premise perfectly of course. And though one has to admit that the film
lacks depth and strong characters, its many fun setpieces make up for many
of its shortcomings. It's probably fair to say don't expect a
masterpiece - but expect to be entertained. Unfortunately though, most
of the song-and-dance routines were cut out of Western prints of the film,
which is a bit of a pity.
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