An orphaned girl goes to live with her bad-tempered grandfather in the Swiss Alps. But no sooner has she managed to soften the gruff old man's heart, than she is taken away from him and sent to live in Frankfurt, where she befriends a wheelchair-bound girl and earns the enmity of an austere housekeeper. Children's drama based on Johanna Spyri's novel, with Emma Bolger, Max von Sydow and Diana Rigg.

Swiss girl Adelheid 'Heidi' is orphaned young. Aunt Detie brings her to grandpa Alp and his wife, who live isolated in the Alps since his murder charge. Heidi soon takes to the wild country, especially accompanying young goatherd Peter. Grandpa refuses to send her to school in the city, but aunt Detie returns and forces him to give in. She's sent to a posh lady in Frankfurt, where she'll be a companion for crippled daughter Clara after school hours.