In the years just before World War I, Colonel Ludlow (Anthony Hopkins) has moved his family to a remote ranch in Montana. His three sons are with him, Alfred (Aidan Quinn) is the oldest, Tristan (Brad Pitt), and Samuel (Henry Thomas) the youngest. The boys are raised in the wild with Colonel Ludlow's Indian friend One Stab, but Tristan is the one who becomes the most wild and free. When Samuel returns home from college with his fiancee Susannah (Julia Ormond), she quickly becomes enthralled by Tristan's free spirit. Samuel tells his family that he is heading off to war and Tristan and Alfred head off with him to protect him, Tristan making it his job to protect Samuel. When Samuel is killed, Tristan takes it very hard, blaming himself and coming home distraught. Finding Susannah he takes comfort in her, but soon can't escape the thought that he should not be with the woman that his dead brother was to marry. He leaves telling her he needs some time, and she eventually marries Alfred who has become a congressman. When Tristan returns to his father's ranch he marries another woman and has a family, but Susannah still loves him. Eventually Tristan is the only one left in the family and the legend that he has become is due to his wildness and love for his family.