User Reviews

Sure this initially has a special character for a thriller / heist movie. It's like a dark version of (It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World - 1963), where the race is about big ruby, the racers are top thieves, and the loser gets simply killed. It's clear that director / writer (Krishna Shah) wanted to allure both the American and Indian viewers by mixing a Hollywood heist plot which Bollywood didn't use to, with some Bollywood songs and dances which Hollywood didn't use to, casting actors from both sides, to lose - eventually - the viewers of both sides! Actually the movie bombed at the box office; maybe because it seemed exotic for the 2 teams of viewers, maybe for artistic faults, or maybe for both matters!

As for the artistic faults, (Rex Harrison), while smartly cast as the elegant mysterious billionaire Sir (John Locksley), gave his worst performance ever; he must be rolling in his grave out of regret. He congealed his face with one unbearably neutral reaction. Then did nothing but phoning in his lines in so indifferent way. You can see he was uneasy about the whole project; particularly when the only scene that he made right was his death scene!

Want even bigger disaster? There is. It's (Sylvia Miles) as Countess (Rasmussen). Very few times in my life I watched something this confusing. Truly, I've spent all the time asking myself; was that a man, or a woman?! And to give you a perfect nervous breakdown; while she looked like a circus freak, everybody in the movie referred to her as ravishing woman. Even (Harrison)'s character raved at one moment about how "Death should've killed itself before touching a beauty like that."??!! Enough to tell you, that I was certain that she would turn out to be a MAN at the end as a twist. And I couldn't assure that she was a woman, unless when I went to IMDb after the viewing!

Want even bigger and bigger disaster? The mother of all disasters? OK, there is. The movie's script! (Shah) made a big mistake when he wrote the movie besides directing it. Because his writing isn't as good as his directing. Review with me: What was the point out of Sir (John)'s fake paralysis?! What was the point out of Col. (Columbus), played by (John Saxon), fake limp and muteness? So the movie repeats the same move, with more than one character, pointlessly! What was the point out of the running debate of "I heard him scream"?!! What was the point when the island people turn (Columbus) into a god?!! In brief, what a superfluous, unsolved, points!

Moreover, the awkward third act: The way how (Kumar), played by (Dharmendra), stole the ruby is super naive. The thing is, he passed all the deadly advanced barriers without any high tech, using some idiot means; like the black and white suit which was incredibly obvious to a degree that made Sir (John) blind for not seeing it! Then, right in the middle of (Kumar)'s escaping with the ruby, the movie inserts such a long song about life and death, and after it ends, we return to follow (Kumar)'s escaping. Now this is completely wrong and badly provocative, producing one of the most unnecessary songs in movie history!

The ending wasn't less awkward: Sir (John) is killed by sudden local revolution (!!), (Kumar) reveals that he's a police officer (HOW??), and his reason to steal the ruby is because "It gave us so much troubles." (Another HOW??). And while the revolutionists are chasing (Kumar) for the ruby, he doesn't care and gets married, then the movie ends, to make me laugh like a drain! (Was there a canceled "Part 2"?!). So, all in all, I can't say that (Shah)'s writing isn't as good as his directing. No. It rather destroyed his directing!

On the contrary, (Shah) as a director was very good. He mastered some thrilling sequences, and distinct cadres. The editing was sufficiently hot. "Hum Bewafa Harghiz Na the" is a timeless classic. Composer (R. D. Rudman)'s name guarantees something between zest and immortality. The production succeeded in being as over-the-top as the story. The cinematography made an image that was as stately as the sets, and as elegant as the leads. (Dharmendra) and (Zeenat Aman) are icons more than stars, their charisma and credibility are fabulous.

By the way, in 1978 many of the Indian cinema's conservative values were being broken. So it wasn't that weird to repeat the shot of the naked blond girl, who was sleeping with the lead, on and on. Perhaps the movie was just happy with it, if not proud of it! Additionally, the 2 leads' little kiss at the final shot was one of the earliest kisses filmed in Bollywood movies after breaking the taboo of "kissing". FYI, the Indian censorship used to consider kissing on screen "indecent" since 1947, before things got changed in the early 1970s with movies like (Bobby - 1972). Not the way to progress if you asked me!

But getting more sexual isn't the only thing to remember (Shalimar) with. Because it's different and so ambitious Indian thriller. However, part of the performance and the casting, along with the movie's mind, namely its script, stood in front of this very movie's quality. It's like an entertaining piece of work that suffered an invasion of absurdity. By rephrasing a line from the movie: "Absurdity should've killed itself before touching a beauty like that."

It needs a remake. Whether comes from Bollywood or Hollywood, it needs a remake.

Funny PS: On the movie's international poster, you'll find no one but the British and American stars. And on the Indian poster, you'll find no one but the Indian stars!

This colorful but ill-fated Hollywood meets Bollywood heist caper flopped miserably at the box office. Nevertheless, writer & director Krishna Shad has crafted an above-average crime thriller with intrigue, deceit, and adventure. "Raiders of the Sacred Stone," as it came to be called, undoubtedly taking advantage of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," was initially known as "Shalimar." Stanford Sherman co-wrote the story that Shad based his screenplay on, and Sherman boasts writing credits such as the 1966 "Batman," "The Ice Pirates," "Krull," and "Any Which Way You Can." Rex Harrison, John Saxon and Indian star Dharmendra bolster this film with strong performances. The film never wears out its welcome and contains some interesting twists. Unfortunately, everything boils down to a status quo law & order opus where the criminals are thwarted and a valuable gem is returned to legal society. Basically, this 90-minute epic amounts to a variation on "The Most Dangerous Game," the classic where a big game safari hunter trapped unfortunate humans on his own island and then turned them loose so he could enjoy the thrill of hunting them to see if they could escape him.

The world's wealthiest jewel thief, Sir John Locksley (a sinister looking Rex Harrison of "My Fair Lady"), is dying from cancer. He invites four of the best thieves in the world to his palatial residence on St. Dismas, a remote, tiny Indian Ocean island where he lives alone with his servants. The thieves include Kumar (Dharmendra), Romeo (O.P. Ralhan), the religious Dr. Bukhari (Shammi Kapoor), nimble German trapeze artist/tightrope walker Countess Rasmussen (Sylvia Miles of "Midnight Cowboy") and Colonel Columbus (John Saxon of "Enter the Dragon"). Sir John has chosen them because of their notorious reputations as criminals. Columbus stole the Catherine the Great emerald. The Countess pinched a Vincent van Gogh painting from a museum. Romeo held up the Bank of Singapore, while Dr. Bukhari substituted a fake crucifix for St. Timothy's Cross in Jerusalem. Initially, Kumar masqueraded as Raja Bahadur Singh with a turban, a mustache, and a beard. He gives up his masquerade not long after arriving at the island. He assures everybody that he is a small potatoes thief from the streets of Bombay. Eventually, we learn that Kumar is not the rank amateur that he claims to be. Believe me, he puts on a good act trying to convince them that he is an amateur, especially when he steals cuff links. Indeed, Kumar turns out to be an impostor with an interesting background.

Sir John lives like a sultan on the island and commands his own loyal army of armed guards. Actually, he saved these natives from a rival chieftain, and they serve him now. Sir John's beautiful nurse Sheila Enders (Zeenat Aman) and he escort their guests on a guided tour of his lavish estate and show them his elaborate security system that he has designed to safeguard the jewel. Afterward, Sir John challenges them to see who can steal the legendary Shalimar ruby. "It would be sacrilege to allow the ruby to pass into undeserving hands," Sir John explains. "The title of the greatest thief will belong to one of you." The Shalimar Ruby has a history similar to The Maltese Falcon, having exchanged hands over the centuries. Its first owner was none other than Alexander the Great who found it when he invaded India in 300 B.C. Briefly; Sir John explains that the Shalimar ruby is the largest single gem in the world. The gem consists of 1, 214 karats and is valued at $135 million.

The mute, crippled Colonel Columbus who communicates with sign language takes the first crack at the ruby, but he is shot in the back by a guard as he enters the room where the ruby is housed. As it turns out, Columbus lied about his lame leg and his mute status. Kumar swears that he heard him scream when he was shot and killed. This becomes a refrain throughout the action. "Do dead men scream?" Countess Rasmussen fares a little better. She knocks off all the guards with her considerable acrobatic skills, but she is blown up when she comes almost within arm's length of the gem. Romeo, who tried to rob Sir John initially, dies next, and Dr. Bukhari is the last to bite the bullet. Surprisingly, Kumar is the thief who manages to steal the ruby. Although Sir John warned the quintet about the rule against collaborators, it seems that Sheila and Kumar were romantically engaged in a previous relationship. Kumar drove her away when she caught him cheating on her with a blond. Mind you, most of this is designed as a red herring. Sir John, like all criminals, suffers his fate because he forced some many of his guards--approximately 18--to die in an effort to thwart the thieves. The big showdown in the room where the gem is stored is pretty cool. The ruby is housed in a clear, see-through, cylinder constructed of bulletproof glass and Sir John has surveillance cameras stationed everywhere in his mansion.

"Raiders of the Sacred Stone" qualifies as an interesting potboiler that is done with a modicum of polish. Noted British cinematographer Ernst Day handled the second unit. The fireworks and the production design is spectacular to say the least.

This was the first joint production of Hollywood and Bollywood with mix of both actors and the film flopped badly when released. The movie however is remembered today for it's 2 superhit songs Hum Bewafa and One 2 Cha Cha Cha. The film is also considered ahead of it's times. The film has a decent plot and is well handled and very stylish however maybe our audiences didn't take to the film and felt it lacked soul. The film is decent though it has Dharmendra play A CBI Inspector who acts like a thief to catch a diamond Shalimar which is owned by Rex Harrison who calls 4 criminals to his island and gives them a bet to rob the diamond. It makes for some interesting moments, but the story does stretch and some scenes are too implausible. Yet several scenes are fabolously executed.

Direction is decent Music by RD Burman is superb,Hum Bewafa is still remembered, the song was perfectly rendered by Kishore Kumar, while One 2 Cha Cha Cha is superb too, rest are okay

Dharmendra is good in his role and plays it with ease,Zeenat Aman is alright, Shammi Kapoor gets a miniscule role and he is okay, Rex Harisson(voice dubbed by Kader Khan) is okay,Aruna Irani has one scene, rest are okay