big wednesday ( 1978 ) be a film that be make for baby boomer . writer or director john milius be bear in 1944 and the material draw on a ten year span of his life from the early 1960 to the early 1970 . aside from need a span of time to qualify a a come of age saga and it be hop that the long time span would enable it to connect with the entire range of boomer ( birth date from 1945 1963 ) . almost anyone born during those year will find thing in the film they relate to even shadow boomer with just the second hand exposure provide by their old sibling . young viewer should enjoy the spectacular surfing sequence and might find the other stuff an interesting history lesson . milius be one of the so called young auteur director of the 70 ( coppola and lucus and spielberg and scorsese and de palma ) . unlike the others he do very little after 1984 and the year he release red dawn and an embarrassingly moronic and histrionic right wing propaganda film that alert an unsuspecting world to his extremist political view . hollywood insider already know about this and the coen brother would use him a a model for john goodman character in the big lebowski . but big wednesday be his masterpiece and it be unlikely that any other writer or director could have bring this story to the screen this effectively . unfortunately it surfer subject matter do not draw many non enthusiast to the theatre while even though the film be a lot more than surfing and contain a very original universal message about the process of living and change . low box office lead to a re edit for pay television and with the more philosophical content be take out . the current dvd and vhs be of this short version and so if you saw the big wednesday during it theatrical release you will be somewhat disappointed . structure like a four act play with each transition move the action ahead a couple of year and big wednesday follow three young surfer in the la area ( jan michael vincent and william katt and gary busey ) . each play a talented surfer with vincent character approach legendary status . surf play a big part in their life ( bruce surtees cinematography provide some of the most stunning view of the sport you be likely to ever see ) but much of the film take place away from the beach while with scene of party and the military induction center and tijuana and family life and and romance ( a full range of what grow up in southern california be all about ) . milius treatment of surfing be reverential and sometimes even mystical and with a sweeping musical score and a local character ( bear ) who be a kind of guru for the sport . in a scene cut from the television version bear explain the origin and significance of the big wednesday title . somehow milius get all this right and the film transcend what might have be a pretentious exercise in sport glorification . the final scene be truly special a the three main character manage a convergence for a final day of surf together and a scene that recall the freedom and awe of their teenage year and contrast it with how remove they have get from this former way of life . anyone who have have to choke back their emotion after a nostalgic rush remind them of what they will never have again and will be move my this wonderful sequence . then again and what do i know . i be only a child .