The 1983 film "Treasures of the Snow" is based on Patricia M. St. John's 1950 novel of the same title. The film is a British children's film set in an early 20th century village in Switzerland. A local boy, Lucien, causes another local boy, Dani, to fall off a cliff, and the resulting injury forces Dani to use a crutch to walk. Dani's older sister plots revenge on Lucien. Lucien's teenage sister works as a maid at a hotel and is given a Swiss 5 franc coin as a tip by a famous doctor which leads to a father-son reunion and Dani's recovery.

The Morell and Burnier families live in a small Swiss town early in the 20th century. Mr. Burnier is a widower with a young daughter Annette and a son Dani. Mrs. Morell is a widow with a teenage daughter Marie and a young son Lucien. Lucien and Annette attend school together and get into an argument. Lucien finds Dani, steals Dani's kitten Franz, and threatens to drop the kitten off of a cliff.

The kitten falls, Dani tries to climb down to rescue the cat and also falls. After questioning Lucien confesses and leads people to the fall site.

Mr. Brunier uses a rope to climb down and rescue his son. The son is taken to a doctor who sets his broken leg, three months later Dani's leg is out of a cast, and he has to use a crutch to get around. Annette tells everyone in school what Lucien did and the school children and local adults shun Lucien. Lucien likes to go hiking in the mountains and also carving wood figures. An old man, known as the Woodcarver, sees Lucien and admires his figures and offers to teach Lucien woodcarving.

The old man tells Lucien that that he once robbed a bank and spent time in prison. He has two adult sons but does not visit them as he is worried that his criminal record will damage them socially. The old man shows Lucien some paper money and explains that the money is from selling his wood carvings.

At home Lucian's older sister Marie returns from her job as a hotel maid.

Marie puts a large coin onto the table.

The coin is the obverse of a silver Switzerland 5 francs coin.

Silver, 31.4 mm, 15.00 gm
This type of coin was minted from 1931 to 1969 of silver and continues to be minted of copper-nickel.

Mrs. Morell asks Marie "what's this?" and Marie replies "Money, I think".
Marie explains that she received it as a tip from Monsieur Givert, a famous bone doctor. Lucien runs off to visit the woodcarver and asks for the money. He then uses skis to go to Dr. Givert's office.

Lucien explains about Dani's problem and shows him the money to pay for the operation. The doctor is very curious about Lucien's woodcarver friend and agrees to examine Dani. Dani, accompanied by Annette, are taken to the doctor's clinic and three months later he arrives home with his leg repaired.

Dani's kitten is now a large cat. Dr. Grivet goes to see the woodcarver, who, of course, is his father.

Paul Dean as Lucien Morell
Carey Born as Annette Burnier
Timothy Fleetwood as Dani Burnier
Bay White as Grandma Burnier
William Boyde as Mr. Burnier
Vera Fusek as Mrs. Morell
Bethan Cathawood as Marie Morell
Ted Brown as Woodcarver
Julian Battersby as Doctor Grivet
Director: Mike Pritchard
Writers: Mike Pritchard and Patricia M. St. John (novel)