The Rivals (1923)

William Watson: The Rivals (US 1923) with Bobby Dunn and Slim Summerville. Collection Steve Massa.

US 1923. regia/dir, scen: William Watson. cast: Slim Summerville (Slim), Bobby Dunn (Bobby), Esther Ralston (Esther), Charles Meakin (suo padre/Esther’s father). prod: Universal. uscita/rel: 31.12.1923. copia/copy: 35 mm, 966 ft, 13' (24 fps); did./titles: ENG. fonte/source: Library of Congress National Audio-Visual Conservation Center, Packard Campus, Culpeper, VA.
    Grand piano: Meg Morley.
    Teatro Verdi, Pordenone, Le Giornate del Cinema Muto (GCM): Slapstick Prog. 4 Odd Couples, 12 Oct 2023

Steve Massa (GCM 2023): " Slim Summerville and Bobby Dunn are often included in the group of “original Keystone Kops.” Although not actually in the initial Sennett police squad, they were at the studio in its early days doing bits and stunts, working their way up to featured clowns. Previous to their movie days Slim had hoboed around America and appeared in small theatre companies, while Bobby had been a champion stunt and equestrian diver. In 1916 Sennett began teaming the tall, skinny Summerville with the compact Dunn in shorts like The Winning Punch (1916) and Villa of the Movies (1917). The boys made a natural “Mutt and Jeff ” combo, and always played opportunistic buddies not above doing dirt to each other to get ahead. "

" Although they each moved around to separate companies (LKO, Arrow), they always seemed to come back together – first for Fox and then in 1923 for this series at Universal, turning out a year’s worth of 13 shorts, of which The Rivals is the only survivor today. The basic premise has the boys as unfriendly rivals for the same object of affection – ingenue Esther Ralston, who would soon make a name for herself at Paramount (why pretty Esther would be interested in either of these lunkheads is a comic conceit of its own). "

" The boys are totally unconcerned that they’ve lost their jobs as movie extras for being particularly inept gladiators, as what seems to be important to them is the next underhanded thing that they can do to each other. The topper has Slim tying Bobby to a rocket and then watching him fly all over the suburbs surrounding the Universal lot. The Rivals is short and snappy, with the expert direction and gags supplied by William Watson, an overlooked comedy veteran who began his career at L-KO Comedies and was busy working at Century Comedies, Universal, Christie, RKO, and Educational into the 1930s. "

" For many years both comics continued to turn up in shorts and played support in features. Overall, Slim Summerville’s career fared better, and sound gave it a shot in the arm. After his wonderful performance in All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), he starred in some talking shorts, but was generally a supporting player in “A” features and a star in “Bs.” Often teamed with ZaSu Pitts, he worked up until shortly before his death in January 1946. Bobby Dunn declined to mostly bit roles, frequently at the Hal Roach Studio, where he turns up in Me and My Pal (1933), Tit for Tat (1935), and The Lucky Corner (1936), before his passing in 1937. " – Steve Massa

...

IMDb resume: " As Caesar and Marc Antony in the movies, the rivals fail and after various other crimes they land in the home of their mutual sweetheart. Father appears with a gun, but they escape by borrowing the girl's clothes. "

Library of Congress resume: " Slim and Bobby are fired from a motion picture studio after a try-out in the roles of Roman gladiators. Bob wants to visit "their girl", Esther, too, and Slim tries to shake him, but without success. Slim's visit is terminated by the sudden arrival of the persistent Bobby, and he hides in a closet. He is soon followed by Bobby whose unwelcome arrival has been spotted by the girl's father. They manage to escape by donning, jointly, a set of female apparel. Later Bob develops a toothache. Slim endeavors to relieve it by tying the tooth to a skyrocket which unexpectedly pulls Bobby through the air and in close pursuit of Slim, who is trying to elope with the girl. The rocket finally comes to earth and the tooth is extracted, but...it's the wrong tooth. " — Copyright Description from Library of Congress

AA: In the meta comedy opening, Slim and Bobby are screen tested for Julius Caesar and Marc Antony in a disastrous duel. Instead of Cleopatra, they are rivals for the affection of Esther Ralston, "the dream we both believe in". Her father, armed with a gun, is quick to target them, but, having hidden in a wardrobe closet, they escape in shared female drag. The film ends with a "justice of fate" when Bobby tries to cure his toothache with a firework rocket. We get the fireworks, Bobby flies through the air, and a tooth is pulled, but not the right one.

Slim Summerville and Bobby Dunn have talent, and Esther Ralston is lovely. 

The inevitable point of comparison is Laurel & Hardy. They also behave awfully against each other (although never as romantic rivals) yet there is always real friendship and shared joy in their comedy, as well as unending psychological complexity beyond the obvious, even crude, farce surface. Nuance and complexity is missing from Slim & Bobby.