Sean Connery's first major screen role (after appearing as an extra several years earlier) before he became one of the world's best known big screen actors from the 60's onwards.So how does the movie's first and best James Bond fare here? Well,we all have to start somewhere and sometime,and 'major' is the very last ephitet to describe this minor 'B' British crime effort,the like of which Irish-born director Montgomery Tully helmed on other occasions like this.If it's any compensation,Connery started fairly near the bottom and steadily worked his way up after this low-key,low-budget but mildly efficient melodrama set in seedy backstreets and cheap sets,with a colourless American lead (Skip Homeier).It's not saying much,but the best scene in the film is a silent-style robbery sequence performed at a factory,which ends in murder and further somewhat obvious plot complications.As for Connery,his role consists of a brief supporting turn as a gang member,though he gives the part a little more depth by employing a speech impediment.Despite the constant threat of typecasting after his unparallelled success as 007,he would convincingly and persuasively tackle various other memorable screen roles afterwards. NO ROAD BACK would be totally lost in the ether of film history had this not featured the future Sir Sean in his raw,youthful salad days;for that reason alone,it is of minor historical interest,but little more.
Rating:4 and a half out of 10.
Rating:4 and a half out of 10.