Character Relationship Map: Cupid's Rival

Characters

• Janitor (played by Billy West) — protagonist

  Billy works as the janitor of the studio apartment building and is ordered to bring breakfast to the rich artist. After discovering Mike's trick at the exhibition, he arms himself with a club and chas...

• Janitor's wife (played by Mary Ross) — supporting
• Poor Artist (played by Oliver Hardy) — supporting

  The poor artist lives in an adjacent studio and has painted a portrait of the landlord in place of paying rent. He becomes enraged when he sees his sweetheart entering the rich artist's studio, and la...

• Rich Artist (played by Leo White) — supporting

  The rich artist occupies a studio apartment and orders Billy, the building's janitor, to bring him breakfast. The poor artist sees his sweetheart Ethel in the rich artist's studio, stroking his head,...

• Poor Artists' Sweetheart (played by Ethel Marie Burton) — supporting

  Ethel is the sweetheart of the poor artist. He sees her enter the rich artist's studio and, finding her stroking the rich artist's head, bursts in and attacks him with a painting of Ethel. The inciden...

• Landlord (played by Joe Cohen) — supporting

  The landlord is connected to the poor artist's studio through a portrait the artist painted in place of rent. After Mike accidentally tears the portrait during his mouse chase, Mike proposes impersona...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Janitor's wife → Janitor (wife)
• Janitor → Rich Artist (Professional Service Provider) — The Janitor performs a service for the wealthy artist within the studio building.

  The Janitor works as the studio apartment's janitor and is ordered by the Rich Artist to bring him breakfast.

• Poor Artist → Poor Artists' Sweetheart (Romantic Sweethearts) — They are romantically involved, but her apparent intimacy with the Rich Artist creates jealousy and conflict.

  The review explicitly calls her the Poor Artist's sweetheart. He becomes enraged when he sees her entering the Rich Artist's studio.

• Poor Artist → Landlord (Professional Tenant) — The Poor Artist satisfies his rent obligation through artwork rather than payment.

  The Poor Artist has painted a picture for the Landlord in lieu of rent.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Poor Artist → Rich Artist (Conflict Rival) — The Poor Artist views the Rich Artist as a romantic and social rival.

  The Poor Artist sees his sweetheart in the Rich Artist's studio, bursts in, and strikes the Rich Artist with a painting.

Story Analysis

A studio-building rivalry grows from jealousy and comic accidents into an exhibition deception and a chaotic final chase.

Plot Progression

1. Studios and Suspicions — The Janitor serves the Rich Artist while the Poor Artist manages rent through artwork. The Poor Artist then sees his sweetheart entering the Rich Artist's studio.
2. Jealousy Strikes Back — The Poor Artist finds his sweetheart touching the Rich Artist and attacks him with a painting. The approaching exhibition adds pressure to the Rich Artist's situation.
3. The Ruined Portrait — A mouse chase enters the Poor Artist's studio and results in the tearing of his portrait. His return turns the comic accident into personal heartbreak.
4. Reality Inside Frames — A frame-based disguise is prepared for the exhibition. The guests accept the displayed figures as real and are delighted by the deception.
5. The Exhibition Chase — The Janitor discovers the ruse, takes up a club, and starts a chase through the exhibition. The guests catch him and deliver a final punishment.