The story takes place in 19th-century Russia, where selfish and greedy businessman Karamazov (Li Cobb Lee J. Cobb) and his son Demeter (Uberlena Yul Brynner) fall in love with the same woman named Grushenka (Maria Cher Maria Schell). Demeter even beat his father for this woman. Demeter has two half-brothers, Ivan (Richard Beshart Richard Basehart) and Aliosha (William Shatner William Shatner). In addition, Smirgakov (Albert Salmi Albert Salmi), who cooks in Karamazov's house, is also the illegitimate child of the extravagant Karamazov. Demeter thought Grushenka was having an affair with his father, but in fact, Grushenka's real lover was a Polish. Later, Karamazov was arrested and charged with the murder of his father.