Young Pud is orphaned and left in the care of his aged grandparents. The boy and his grandfather are inseparable. Gramps is concerned for Pud's future and wary of a scheming relative who seeks custody of the child. One day Mr. Brink, an agent of Death, arrives to take Gramps "to the land where the woodbine twineth." Through a bit of trickery, Gramps confines Mr. Brink, and thus Death, to the branches of a large apple tree, giving Gramps extra time to resolve issues about Pud's future.
Lionel Barrymore
as Julian Northrup aka Gramps
Cedric Hardwicke
as Mr. Brink
Beulah Bondi
as Nellie Northrup aka Granny
Una Merkel
as Marcia Giles
Bobs Watson
as Pud Northrup
Nat Pendleton
as Mr. Grimes
Henry Travers
as Dr. Evans
Grant Mitchell
as Mr. Pilbeam
Eily Malyon
as Demetria Riffle
James Burke
as Sheriff Burlingame
Charles Waldron
as Reverend Murdock
Ian Wolfe
as Charles Wentworth