Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Wizard-8 "To All My Friends On Shore" presents Bill Cosby in a light you've probably not seen in him before - in a dramatic production with no humor whatsoever. Since I've found many comedians to be effective at drama when given the change, I was looking forward to this. Added to the interest was that Cosby is not only credited with coming up with the basic idea for the movie, he also composed the music score. But in the end, the movie is kind of disappointing. Cosby keeps the same basic tone throughout - even when he learns his on screen son was taken to the hospital, he remains at the same tone! The first half of the movie is somewhat slow as well. Things do improve in the second half of the movie, with Cosby's character forced to change his way of thinking, and that is interesting. But the movie still suffers from technical goofs ranging from seeing the reflection of the cameraman to poorly recorded audio that makes it hard to make out what people are saying at times. Still, while this movie is somewhat disappointing, it's way, way better than "Top Secret", another dramatic turn by Cosby made six years later.

pacieterra-1 Like many others, I, also, purchased this little gem of a movie for $1 at a Dollar Tree store, not expecting much in the way of production values or story. Wrong on both counts, this is a very sensitive portrayal of a 1980's nuclear family with tight money problems, faced with a dying child. Although Cosby has a few moments of levity, this is a dark drama of a tough, unyielding father trying to bring his small family out of the projects, no matter what it takes, in saving, scrimping, and denying normal activities. Gloria Foster plays the dual-employed maid/nurse-in-training, and displays great range in dealing with her single-minded husband and thwarted child. The lovely nautical settings on the East Coast are good additions to this tale of woe. This might have been a dedicated educational effort on Mr. Cosby's part, during the years he was pursuing Masters and PHD Degrees from Temple University in Philadelphia. It's certainly worth a look and has value far beyond $1.

CineTigers I received this movie in the "50 all-star movie" collection box for $16.99, now avail as low as $10. (20 cents per movie!) A lot of little gems like this one, made for TV on TV budgets in the 1970's. Wonderful time-capsules to show our children and remember ourselves, that otherwise would be locked away.We have a straightforward plot and characters, and Cosby's were very reminiscent of my grandparents that went through the depression and saved aluminum foil, rubber bands, and Christmas bows to reuse later. Good stories establish believable characters then have them resolve a conflict, but Cosby (the writer) may have pushed too hard in defining archetypes of the goal driven father, the status quo father, the torn mother, and frustrated son. I found the father's repeated gruffness irritating, but was guessing Cosby was playing a caricature of someone from memory. The son's illness may have been a little melodramatic, but the response and resolution in the last 30 minutes (which I won't spoil) was sweet without being saccharine and seemed to me somehow special yet reasonable for the man we had come to know.This movie would not have won an Oscar, but I enjoyed it just the same.

noetical1 I purchased this DVD for $1.00 at the Walmart bargain-bin with the expectation that, at the least, it would be funny to see what Bill Cosby was up to in 1972. Remember, The Cos' had just finished his TV run as Coach Chett Kincaid on "The Bill Cosby Show". He was hanging out with Quincy Jones and digging Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew". He wasn't yet working on "Fat Albert and Cosby Kids"...but, he had already broke ground with "I-Spy" in the late '60s...and remember...his record albums were part of every mom-and-dad's collection.So, Bill Cosby in 1972 turned out to be a renaissance man, of sorts. He wrote the music for this made-for-TV movie. He produced. He acted. He even supplied the "original idea".This funky (okay...what I really mean is...FUNK-KAAAYY) little movie really is a swell period piece...East Coast Ghetto Project dwellers struggling to escape...Mom works as a maid...she's a nursing student, too...Dad works odd jobs and is a talented "scavenger". Dad is scrimping and saving to buy the house of his dreams. Unfortunately, in the process, Dad is missing out on his son's growing-up years. Dad is so cheap, saving every nickel for their escape house dreams.Mom and Dad are busy fussing and fighting...and then the kid gets sick...real sick...Good people stuck in hard times. Better than "Good Times"...but, in a sense, this seems like an embryonic version of the classic '70s sitcom.But, take heed: "To All My Friends on Shore" is not even one little bit funny. Once again: THIS IS NOT A FUNNY MOVIE! This movie is hardcore serious. Serious as a heart attack! And, that's why it's great...If you watch this movie and you are not moved by it's strength and beauty...well...then I don't think there is any hope for you. What the heck...give it a shot...for one measely buck you can't afford not to see this little forgotten gem.