The Three Robbers

One of the triplet brothers, Dominik is the stern enforcer who uses a blunderbuss to intimidate. He appears the most resistant to change, yet his perspective begins to shift as Tiffany’s influence softens the gang’s view of their wealth and power. His arc gestures toward a future where protection replaces predation, while his loyalty to the others remains a core tension.

Felix wields a pepper-blower to disorientate and blind carriage horses, bringing mischief and cunning to the trio. He contributes to the plan with quick thinking and a willingness to test new ideas. Through Tiffany’s presence, he begins to see reading and writing as tools for cunning plans that could still aim for mercy rather than malice.

Maximus uses a red battle axe to vandalize carriage wheels, making him the physically imposing member of the trio. His aggression is tempered over time by the moral influence around him, revealing glimpses of protectiveness toward the children and a growing unease with their criminal lifestyle.

A lonely girl whose parents died and who is being sent to an orphanage. She deceives the robbers by claiming to be a maharaja’s daughter, which initially manipulates them but also sparks moments of reflection and remorse. Tiffany’s compassion grows as she teaches the robbers to read and write, and she ultimately chooses honesty and the welfare of the other orphans.

The wicked proprietor of the orphanage who enforces forced child labor to harvest sugar beets for her pastry machine. Her cruelty and reliance on exploitation drive much of the conflict, culminating in a comically cruel downfall when she falls into her own pastry vat and is transformed into a cake in a surreal moral twist.

Two orphans Tiffany encounters along the way to the orphanage who reveal Auntie’s harsher methods. Their escape and capture become part of the plan to expose the abuse and spark a larger shift toward safeguarding the vulnerable. They join the moral circle that challenges exploitation and seeks a better life for all.

Gene Deitch provides the narration that frames the tale with a fable-like moral tone, guiding the audience through the robbers’ transformation and the orphans’ revival. His narration helps emphasize the themes of redemption, charity, and communal justice that define the story.