I don't think the shorter cut is even available anymore.
10yrs earlier, David Lean got hauled by critics for
Ryan's Daughter
, but this film was still popular. Ryan's is a stunning film and much of it is told visually as well. I was even impressed as an 8yr old boy when I saw it in 70mm.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

It was a much shorter cut that was originally released, but it was also one of the biggest box office flops of all-time.
Years later, it was restored to it's original length.
My personal draw to it is Rosie Vela was in it.
Are you okay?

I have never seen
The Right Stuff
either. Neither of these films looked appealing to me.
I don't mind long films, as long as they are engaging and the actors represent their characters well. Western themes movies just weren't the rave during the late 70's, especially bleak looking ones. It needed to headline a big star, too generate more interest.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

I finally watched this last year and was more or less enthralled for most of the length. Yes, it’s bloated and overlong, but it’s a reminder of how ambitious auteur-driven cinema was during the ‘70s… indeed, it was - give or take The Right Stuff a few years later - the last gasp of such things. It’s not perfect by any means but the things which are good about it are VERY good, and it’s certainly worth seeing. One particular sequence is among the most beautiful movie scenes of the era.

It seems like a drudge and while I can watch it on here, I don't know if I care to waste over 4hrs of my time and come away feeling like it was meh! I would rather watch
Gone With The Wind
, which I do enjoy.
Norman! What did you put in my tea?

I've seen it but can't remember a thing about it except Christopher Walken being a bad ass.