The movie takes place during Russia's civil war between the Reds (Bolsheviks) and the Whites (Mensheviks). Andrejka and Yarinka are a young betrothed couple in the village of Malinovka, caught between the battle lines. Gritsian is the leader of a Menshevik band who are planning to attack the village. Yarinka appeals to the local Bolshevik commander for his faction's help. The Bolsheviks quickly come up with a plan to save the village... but the plan requires Yarinka to enter into a pretend marriage with Gritsian.

苏联电影界的结集空前的巨費和4年的岁月，在当时造就的豪华场面场面，总计10万6000人的角色，1万1000头的马，以及实物大的基辅城的城墙和宫廷的巨大的布景也有着巨大的震撼力，反派角色的卡林王，通常都坐在几十个男人抬着的的神轿上；本电影原名是《Илья Муромец》，也就是主角伊里亚·穆罗梅茨（英语：Ilya of Murom）最早流传的古俄罗斯“壮士歌”（即歌颂英雄的传统民歌）中的主人公。他是10世纪基辅的圣弗拉基米尔一世宫中的主要勇士。伊里亚出身农民，从一出生就被认为是一个没有希望的孩子，因为他直到三十多岁才学会走路。