辽阔的西部草原住着一位父亲和他的三个儿子——父亲是退了休的骑兵上校，三个儿子个性鲜明：大儿子艾尔弗莱德（艾丹•奎因 Aidan Quinn 饰）忠厚老实，二儿子特里斯坦（布拉德•皮特 Brad Pitt 饰）狂放不羁，最小的儿子塞缪尔（亨瑞•托马斯Henry Thomas饰）温文尔雅。 
　　父子在大草原的生活随着塞缪尔未婚妻苏珊娜（朱莉娅•奥蒙德 Julia Ormond 饰）的到来而改变。苏珊娜年轻漂亮，给艾尔弗莱德带来了内心的震动。他暗恋她，然而苏珊娜心里却不由自主的迷恋上豪放粗犷的特里斯坦。出于道德的坚守，他们一直压抑着内心的感情。 
　　直到塞缪尔壮烈牺牲在前线，事情有了变化。特里斯坦非常爱戴哥哥，无法面对已经爱上苏珊娜的现实，于是离家出走。而苏珊娜万念俱灰，答应嫁给了艾尔弗莱德，而特里斯坦在草原之外也已结婚生子。事情好像趋于了平静，但特里斯坦妻子的亡故又令事情有了波澜。

1.Some people hear their own inner voices with great clearness and they live by what they hear. Such people become crazy, or they become legends.

有些人能清楚地听到自己内心深处的声音，并以此行事。这些人要么变成了疯子，要么成为传奇。

2.God knows how you've lived so long.

天知道你还会有命。

3.when the hunter cuts out its warm heart.

当猎人取出猎物的心脏…

4.Every warrior hopes a good death will find him.

每个战士都希望英勇的死去。

5.For all His countless blessings,

赞美神，赐福我们一切所需。

6.It makes him feel young and powerful to treat us like we're idiot children.

视我们像笨蛋，使他感到年轻有为。

7.I think they loved mostly the idea of each other.

我看他们深爱的是彼此的意念。

8.as a justification for actions that could plunge the entire civilized world into...

师出有名以致使整个文明世界…

9.Sounds like you're not sure, though Maybe there's a chance?

你并不能肯定，也许会有机会。

10.Already, I have acquired a reputation for honesty and fair dealing.

我因诚实和公平交易闯出名堂。

11.It is hard to tell of happiness.

快乐地不知如何形容。

12.I think she feels very alone in the world.

我认为她觉得在世上颇为孤单。