Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer star in this historical epic depicting the Battle of Waterloo. After his abdication Napoleon Bonaparte (Steiger) is exiled to the island of Elba. However, following his escape he reunites with his generals and troops, and mounts a campaign to finally reign supreme over continental Europe. Opposing him outside the small town of Waterloo, Belgium, are British and coalition forces led by Arthur Welsley, the Duke of Wellington (Plummer).