The Unwelcome Guest

The Unwelcome Guest is a Barney Bear cartoon directed by George Gordon for MGM. It concerns the attempt of the leading character to have a picnic despite the presence of a skunk who keeps following him. Hilarious sight gags abound with constant action and swiftness. I especially loved the touch of Barney reading the book "Red Hot Riding Hood" (the title of Tex Avery's sexually-charged cartoon of the famous fairly tale) and whistling at the pictures (which the skunk on his spoon also does). While I've seen several Barney Bear cartoons on "The Tom and Jerry Show" as a kid in the '70s, this may have been the first time I saw this one. Well worth seeing for any animation fans or anyone who just wants a good laugh.

In this installment of the Barney Bear films, Barney is out collecting berries when he meets up with a skunk. Unfortunately, the skunk REALLY likes berries and follows Barney everywhere--across a log overlooking a HUGE drop and even to Barney's home! However, unlike most cartoons like this, the skunk isn't mean nor does he torture Barney. Instead, Barney just can't stand the smell of him and gets himself in trouble trying to avoid him. Overall, it's rather cute and sweet. Not among the very best Barney Bear cartoons but a worthy addition--with a gentle sense of humor and typically lovely animation--which is true of all the MGM cartoons of this era. Worth seeing.

In the third and final Barney Bear cartoon, Barney is out collecting berries, only to be pursued by a pleasant and helpful skunk who wants the fruit.

Michael Lah and George Gordon co-direct this cartoon as a virtually silent movie, with old of sight gags and sound effects. The look is pure candybox, with elaborate background work by Joseph Smith.

Lah would continue at MGM through the closing of its animation department a dozen years later, then go to his old associates at Hanna-Barberra. He would die in 1995, age 93. Gordon, who had started at Terrytoons, would later work for Hanna-Barberra and Depatie-Freleng, and live until age 79, dying in 1986.

While not one of my favourite cartoon characters, Barney Bear was a very funny and likable character where his sluggishness was a huge part of his charm. He was also interesting for being modelled on both his creator Rudolf Ising (who also was his first voice actor until 1941) and the mannerisms of Wallace Beery.

'The Unwelcome Guest' is the third and last Barney cartoon directed by George Gordon, and to me it's his best one and one of my favourite Barney cartoons. It is a shame that Gordon didn't do more Barney cartoons, all three are well worth watching and he was a worthy successor (one of the better ones) to Ising in his contribution to the Barney Bear series. As ever with the Barney cartoons, it's slight in the story. With that being said, it's also very well animated and is one of the series' funniest in a way where any reservations of a lack of originality was forgotten.

As to be expected, Barney's personality again is very well established and he proves again why he was deserving of his own series and it was sad he didn't last longer. He is a fun and adorable character and easy to root for, one can really understand his frustration. The animation is colourful and beautifully drawn with fluid movements and meticulous attention to detail. The amount of detail given to Barney's character design was incredibly nuanced and it was a shame that it became simplified later on and lost its special uniqueness.

Music, courtesy of Scott Bradley, is lushly and cleverly orchestrated, with lively and energetic rhythms and fits very well indeed, even enhancing the impact of actions and gestures.

The gags are never less than very funny (a couple hilarious), there is a lot of cute and silly charm and the skunk is just as adorable as Barney without being cutesy. The whole not being able to stand the skunk's smell idea is very old territory but it's done in a way that's both fun and where it's hard not to feel sorry for the skunk.

Overall, another winner from Barney Bear. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Barney Bear is collecting berries out in the woods when a skunk starts eating the ones he dropped. Barney is horrified by the foul smelling animal following him. When he gets home, it's not actually safe. The skunk had climbed into his basket.

Barney Bear is fine for the most part. He is not my favorite character but there is nothing objectionable about him. This one has a few good gag. I like the one where the skunk tries to place a plate of berries in Barney's face. Barney going back and forth delivers a really fun rhythm. I also like the skunk. It's too bad that they don't give him a name.