Orhan girl Heidi (Jennifer Edwards) is given over by her Aunt to the care of her gruff, but kindly grandfather, who spends most of his days in virtual seclusion among the Alps. Eventually Heidi must return to her family and goes to live with her equally kind Uncle, Herr Richard Sessemann, her crippled cousin Klara, and the governess assigned to care for all of them. Despite growing to love her new family, Heidi soon finds herself torn and longs to return to the Alps with her grandfather.