After directing for the stage in Israel, Golan found his way to the US as one of Roger Corman's many young proteges. Upon his return to Israel he and Globus helped build that country's film industry, producing, and sometimes directing, several prestige productions such as "Sallah Shabati" (1964).

In 1979, the team moved to Hollywood, taking control of the Cannon group, and in the following decade consistently turned out art-house productions, such as John