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Big Wednesday
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 9780790765280
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
ISBN: 0790765284
Item Dimensions: 100
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 SurroundFrench (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 MonoEnglish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled),
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: D11182D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 09, 2002
Running Time: 119 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: 1978-05
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Editorial Review:
John Milius charts a decade of social change as three surfing buddies use the sport as a personal touchstone for their lives while growing up in the turbulent 1960s. Irresponsible hot-dogging legend Matt (Jan-Michael Vincent), serious and stable Jack (William Katt), and mad misfit Leroy, a.k.a. "Masochist" (Gary Busey), are teenage surf bums in 1963, living at the beach in a perpetual summer under the sway of surfboard-maker Bear (Sam Melville), guru, mentor, and keeper of the lore. But the times they are a changin' and boys grow up in the shadow of Vietnam while adulthood pushes them into hard decisions. John Milius mixes the nostalgia of American Graffiti with the reverence of a John Ford cavalry drama. Surfing becomes a kind of spiritual quest spoken of in awed mythic tones and photographed with the epic grandeur of a rite of passage. Milius's heavy-handed direction and reverent attitude slows the films and will turn off some viewers, but Milius fans will appreciate his macho stylings and philosophical musings, and surfing fans will love the spectacular surfing footage, including the dazzling stylings of world champion Gerry Lopez (who Milius later cast in Conan the Barbarian). Lee Purcell costars as Matt's supportive wife, with Patti D'Arbanville, Barbara Hale, and Robert Englund in supporting roles. Look for Ford stock player Hank Worden in a small role and Milius himself in a cameo selling marijuana in Tijuana. --Sean Axmaker
No matter what rolls in on the tides of time California surfing buddies Matt Jack and Leroy know they'll stick together. And they know they'll be ready when a rare 20-foot swell hits the coast at last.Running Time: 119 min.System Requirements: Running Time 119 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG UPC: 085391118220
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - An American Classic
What makes this a great movie is the cinematography that was executed back in 1978. The viewer will appreciate the complexities that the filming crew had to probably endure. While there were some stupid and silly scenes in the movie, I particularly enjoyed the overall theme and the music mainly from The Shirelles. Everyone should have the opportunity to watch this movie!
Rating:  - Terrific
"Big Wednesday" (1978) is a film that was made for baby boomers. Writer/director John Milius was born in 1944 and the material draws on a ten year span of his life from the early 1960's to the early 1970's. Along with needing a span of time to qualify as a coming-of-age saga, it was hoped that the long time span would enable it to connect with the entire range of boomers (birth dates from 1945-1963). Almost anyone born during those years will find things in the film they relate to-even shadow boomers ... Read More
Rating: - Big Wednesday
The only reason I give this a 4 star rating instead of a five is, one of the most important scenes that was in the original movie was cut from the VHS and DVD version. It is during a party when "Bear" is talking to his friends and talks about "Big Wednesday" and this explains where the title of the movie came from. Without this scene the title of the movie hardly makes sense. I'm surprised that no one else has mentioned this in their reviews if they've seen the original movie years ago. I've tried for ... Read More
Rating: - A beach culture classic
I was a surf grommet growing up in the mid 1970's. This flick touched on Vietnam in ways that I could begin to understand. When Leroy the masochist(Gary Busey) shambles into the draft board whilst combing his hair with a dead fish, the surreal and insane nature of Vietnam becomes crystal clear. This is a true surf epic directed by a guy who knows the territory. The surf footage, for a hollywood movie, is truly outstanding. There is even a cameo appearance by Mr. Pipeline himself--Gerry Lopez.
Rating: - Great Surf Movie
This is an old favorite from my younger days. It is a movie written by John Millius about a group of young teens growing up in California and surfing. It starts with them in their teen years and deals with their parties, loves, friendship and of course riding the big waves. It is a simpler and nicer time in America in the early 60's. The Beachboys and surf music ruled the airwaves and everybody was tan, hair bleached by the sun, in bikinis and swimming trunks, surf boards, your best girl and late night ... Read More
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