old movie search

its a long shot but nothing ventured nothing gained.ive been checking tv listings for more than 20 years looking for a repeat of a film i saw on tv at least that long ago.set in the southern states of u.s.a. ,a very old film about the character DEATH who,when he comes to claim the life of a young sickly boy living with his grandfather on their farm,manages to end up trapped in a tree and seems only able to get down if grandpa helps him.of course gramps wont release him,so as to protect the boy but without death able to go about his work claiming the lives of all the worlds sick and suffering he eventualy has to free him only to discover that having been kept in the tree for so long,its now time to take both the boy and gramps.its a realy good old tearjerker that id love to see again if anyone can help with any info id be very grateful