Question about the director's cut

For several years in the States, the only version available was the Director's Cut which lasts about 2:25. If you're a fan of John Candy or Slim Pickens, there are more scenes with them. The theatrical cut you possess is tighter, but I prefer the director's cut. The American BluRay contains both versions and it was interesting to compare them.

The director's cut was the original print Spielberg submitted but after a disastrous premiere, studio execs were able to talk Spielberg into making the cuts. However, after it came out a cult sort of grew around the film and it gained in reputation as time went on. That is probably the reason why the only version on home video throughout the 1990's up til only a few years ago was Spielberg's preferred original 2 1/2 hour cut.