We're running out of month here, so let's knock out the final movies watched in November:

178. (925.) Stronger Than Desire (1939)
The bored wife of a famous but potentially unfaithful lawyer has a dalliance with a married con-man who then tries to blackmail her. The con man ends up dead. The movie really wants you to think the murderer is the wife, but if you've ever heard of the Hays Code, you know that's not really going to happen. Worse than the final "twist" is how long the film takes to get to the damn point. This suspense plot has been done better many, many times. See one of those films instead.

179. (926.) The Oklahoma Kid (1939)
For a movie made in "Hollywood's Greatest Year", this western has all the earmarks of the silent era that had ended 10 years earlier. It's not bad, largely thanks to a villainous Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney's infectious joy at being in front of a camera.

180. (927.) The Phantom Tollbooth (1968)
I recorded this animated film from Chuck Jones thinking I'd relive my childhood. I was convinced I'd seen it before, but on watching I found I had zero memory of Butch Patrick's live-action Milo. The movie also completely omits my favorite part of the pun-filled story: subtraction stew. This film isn't all bad, but I'll stick to re-reading the book from now on.

181. (928.) The Croods (2013)
Damn cute movie. Giving voice to a cartoon caveman is the only way Nick Cage doesn't go over the top. (And Emma Stone is still wonderful even when I can't see her.) I look forward to the sequel.

More to come.

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