This tale of the 16th century Cossack uprising against the Poles who had betrayed them years before is kicked off by a memorable, rousing theme from Franz Waxman. Unfortunately, it's largely downhill from here. Yul Brynner never looks comfortable in the title role. He has decided to fight the Poles on his own terms by sending his two sons to university in Kiev to learn their ways. His son "Andrei" (Tony Curtis) falls in love with the beautiful but rather coy Governor's daughter "Natalia" (Christine Kaufmann) and the film depicts the aftermath of this as the Cossacks are once again are summoned to fight with the Poles, though this time they do the betraying. At times, it is engaging - Curtis has an intense equestrian dual with another Cossack warrior jumping over a narrow ravine; but most of this is pedestrian and though well shot, the casting just doesn't really work and the pace of direction can be glacially slow. Guy Rolfe, ever the good baddie, features now and again - as does Sam Wanamaker - but it just takes way too long to get anywhere.