In the 16th century, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, and elsewhere in eastern Europe are divided into small sections and principalities that fight each other or against one enemy: in this case, the Ottoman Empire.

However, it turns out that the Poles are merely holding back in order to treacherously attack the Cossacks after they win the battle for them.

Taras Bulba, one of the Cossack colonels, returns home to raise his family but now it is under Polish dominion.

Two decades later, Taras sends his two sons, Andriy and Ostap to the academy at Kiev, to obtain a Polish education.

There, the elder son, Andriy, falls in love with a Polish princess, Natalia Dubrov, to the ire of the locals, who treat the Cossack brothers like scum of the earth.

Ultimately, the brothers are forced to flee Kiev, returning to their father’s house on the Ukrainian steppes.

The deposed Hetman says he cannot follow, and is ridden down by the Brotherhood as Taras takes the Holy Banner of St. Michael and with it, command.

To save her, Andriy agrees to lead a raiding party to bring cattle into the starving city.

When the Polish commander realizes the weakness of the Cossacks against the raiding party, he orders his whole army to attack.

Taras Bulba encounters his son on the field of battle and kills him for his betrayal before joining the general retreat to the edge of a cliff at a river gorge.

[7] Aldrich claimed Kaufman was acting as a front for producer Harold Hecht,[3] who had been long associated with more social realist dramas starring Burt Lancaster.

After deciding to do some projects without Lancaster, Hecht began working on several films including this adaptation of Gogol's story.

[14] The same month Van Heflin said he would be starring in a rival Taras Bulba movie to be shot in Europe.

[15] Susan Hampshire was meant to play a role but reportedly pulled out when her personal relationship with Thompson ended.