To All My Friends on Shore

To all my friends at the shore conjures up all kinds of images of People sailing, which as one comedienne said is not so popular with the brothers after our ancestors first boat trip, Frank Sinatra singing at the casino which is by the shore, Dinah Shore and an odd assortment of other things, none of which would be popular in the inner city. This gritty and well done movie needed a better title. I can not think of a movie thats title did it such an injustice. The title comes from the final words that Cosby says to his son in jest...and it was not even an accurate exact quote. There are topics of Sickle Cell Anemia, Man and Boy (he already took that title) and ghetto that are never alluded to by such an inept title. At least the weak Taxi Driver title actually was named after the star's profession. This older film surprisingly has Cosby moments where he educates his family on the deadly disease and when he schools his son on yesterday, today and tomorrow people which is both poetic and theoretical. I'll leave it to the ladies to comment, but Cosby is leading man Denzel-like in a time that predates that icon. He is fit and trim with a wardrobe that fluctuates from a youthful jeans and muscle sweatshirt to a white collar and tie, hinting at the sense of style he would later show on his hit show.

Having mainly seen Dr. Cosby (I refer him as such because of his PHD) in "Fat Albert", "The Cosby Show", his movies with Sidney Poitier, and his guest appearances in various '70s variety shows (as well as starring in his own short-lived ABC show), I was wonderfully surprised to see him playing a dramatic role in this TV movie from his own idea about a ghetto man who works various jobs in order to save enough money to buy a home for his maid working/nurse training wife and his teenage son. Because he doesn't let his son out much, there is some animosity between them. Cosby does a good job in fleshing his character's background to his son during many of the walks and drives that are well staged by director Gilbert Gates (Oh, God! Book II, The Academy Awards). Gloria Foster (The Matrix I and II) is fine as the wife. The son (Dennis Hines) later gets a disease that is common for blacks so we also get some lessons about Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow People that leads to a very touching denouement. The $1 DVD I got is double-billed with The Black Brigade with Richard Pryor and Billy Dee Williams. Worth checking out for any Cosby fans.

I also spent $1 at Wal-Mart for this film. I thought it would be interesting to see early Cosby.

Wow, was I in for a delightful surprise. Cosby already showed his genius and sensitivity. His film is a masterpiece.

The movie may be viewed as a period piece of life in the projects in the early 1970's. However, as with Cosby's later work, universal themes come through so that the film skillfully portrays both its time and also transcends its period.

The film has all it needs to become a classic except for publicity. This film should be re-released and given the marketing it deserves to reach a wide audience.

"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.

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.