History Film / XMarksTheSpot

Not to be confused with the [[Film/XMarksTheSpot1931 1931/1942 films]] about rubber racketeering, nor with Creator/TheBBC Radio 4 [[Series/XMarksTheSpot game show]] from the late 90s.

** Subverted later; while the Angel admits that he was distracted at the moment when Joe decided to run diagonally across an intersection and got sent to the hospital, he regards the accident quite fondly, saying that Joe learned a valuable lesson about using crosswalks, and those two months laid up in bed gave the Angel a much-needed rest where he didn't have to worry about Joe being either a driver or pedestrian.

** DrunkDriver: Joe insists that he only drinks "a cocktail or two" on occasion, and is thoroughly berated by the judge for it.

* [[ForcedToWatch Forced to Listen]]: Joe's reaction to the "accident clock" [[spoiler:in the heavenly courtroom]] is treated almost as an AndIMustScream moment.

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Upon learning he no longer has to watch over idiots like Joe, the guardian angel throws his files in the air and whoops "What a relief! What a relief!" and vanishes gleefully abandoning Joe.

Not to be confused with the [[Film/XMarksTheSpot 1931/1942 films]] about rubber racketeering, nor with Creator/TheBBC Radio 4 [[Series/XMarksTheSpot game show]] from the late 90s.

* BreakingTheFourthWall: The judge enlists the viewer to pass judgement upon poor Joe.
** The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat, though a lot of other things, such as regular emissions checkups, are a not-so-gentle reminder.

* YouSuck: The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat, though a lot of other things, such as regular emissions checkups, are a not-so-gentle reminder.

This being [[ScareEmStraight the type of film it is]], you just know Joe is heading for a bad end. In fact, Joe [[spoiler: gets himself killed in an auto accident when his angel takes a breather]] and must plead his case in traffic court [[spoiler: in the afterlife]]. The title itself refers to [[spoiler: the actual spot where Joe dies]].

* StopHelpingMe: Although the guardian angel tries to advocate on Joe's behalf, he's clearly fed up with having to defend the guy; as such, he often winds up admonishing Joe himself, or admitting the whole truth when the Judge prods him on the details.

* CelestialBureaucracy: We just get a little look at the divine judiciary, but a larger bureaucracy is implied.

** HairTriggerTemper: When behind the wheel, literally anything can (and will) set Joe off.

* [[IronicHell Ironic Purgatory]]: The judge concludes that [[spoiler:the things Joe's guardian angel suffered on-duty repaid his debt for his own driving sins in life, and declares him a free ghost. "What a relief, what a relief..."]]

* [[ForcedToWatch Forced To Listen]]: Joe's reaction to the "accident clock" [[spoiler:in the heavenly courtroom]] is treated almost as an AndIMustScream moment.

* YouSuck: The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat.

''X Marks The Spot'' is an educational short film from 1944, produced by the New Jersey Department Of Motor Vehicles, concerning the dangers of reckless and inconsiderate driving habits.

* SocietyMarchesOn: Joe pleads he still has a full book of A coupons (presumably for gas). Ah, WorldWarII rationing...
* YouSuck: The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat.

Not to be confused with the [[Film/XMarksTheSpot 1931/1942 films]] about rubber racketeering, nor with the {{BBC}} Radio 4 [[Series/XMarksTheSpot game show]] from the late 90s.

* FridgeHorror: Joe mentions he is almost 36. The Judge says he wasn't expected to die for another 20 years. So he was supposed to die at ''56''? Even for the 1950s, that's awfully early.

Click the edit button to start this page.

''X Marks The Spot'' is an educational short film from 1944, produced by the New Jersey Department Of Motor Vehicles, concerning the dangers of reckless and inconsiderate driving habits.

Meet Joe Doakes, the single worst driver in New Jersey. Quite possibly the worst driver in the entire world, to hear his guardian angel tell the tale. He speeds through school zones, makes turns from the wrong lane, zips into intersections without looking, and literally runs people off the road whilst passing. On hills. In the face of oncoming traffic. And, somehow, someway, it's ''[[SarcasmMode always]]'' [[NeverMyFault the other guy's fault]].

This being [[ScareEmStraight the type of film it is]], you just know Joe is heading for a bad end. In fact, Joe [[spoiler: gets himself killed in an auto accident when his angel takes a breather]] and must plead his case in traffic court [[spoiler: in the afterlife]]. The title itself refers to [[spoiler: the actual spot where Joe dies]].

Not to be confused with the 1931/1942 films about rubber racketeering, nor with the {{BBC}} Radio 4 game show from the late 90s.

For the ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' episode featuring this short film see [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S02E10KingDinosaur here]].

!!This short film provides examples of:
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The judge enlists the viewer to pass judgement upon poor Joe.
* DrivesLikeCrazy: Joe, of course. Consider:
** DrunkDriver: Joe insists that he only drinks "a cocktail or two" on occasion, and is thoroughly berated by the judge for it.
** HairTriggerTemper: When behind the wheel, literally anything can (and will) set Joe off.
** NeverMyFault: Joe's attitude when driving. [[ImplausibleDeniability Even if the light is against him]], it's not his fault.
** UpToEleven: Seriously, one would hope there's no way a person with Joe's driving record could possibly hold a drivers license for more than a month, let alone ''fifteen years''. The film itself even lampshades this at one point.
* [[ForcedToWatch Forced To Listen]]: Joe's reaction to the "accident clock" [[spoiler:in the heavenly courtroom]] is treated almost as an AndIMustScream moment.
-->'''Joe:''' [as clock counts upward] Stop it, stop it! Can't you ''stop'' it?\\
'''Judge:''' Stop it? [[{{Anvilicious}} How I wish I could stop it.]]
* [[IronicHell Ironic Purgatory]]: The judge concludes that [[spoiler:the things Joe's guardian angel suffered on-duty repaid his debt for his own driving sins in life, and declares him a free ghost. "What a relief, what a relief..."]]
* MoralEventHorizon: Invoked; when Joe tells the judge that he never committed a hit-and-run, the unimpressed judge explains that if Joe had, he'd have been booked "in a ''[[{{Hell}} lower]]'' court".
* PetTheDog: Joe is given a couple of these, just to prove he's not a complete lunatic. At least he learned to slow down near schools; and his guardian angel makes it clear that he's a nice enough guy outside of a car.
* ScareEmStraight: Not only the film as a whole, but also a couple of internal examples:
** At one point Joe tries to cross a street without waiting for traffic (he's no better a pedestrian than he is a driver) and takes a long stay in hospital.
** After nearly running over a child in a school zone, Joe learns to slow down. After all, [[PetTheDog Joe has kids too]].
* YouSuck: The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat.

''X Marks The Spot'' is an educational short film from 1944, produced by the New Jersey Department Of Motor Vehicles, concerning the dangers of reckless and inconsiderate driving habits. It was featured on the movie-mocking program ''MysteryScienceTheater3000'' (alongside the main movie ''KingDinosaur''), and is notable for being the first short film featured on the show that was not an episode of a FilmSerial such as ''ThePhantomCreeps'' or ''UnderseaKingdom''.

* YouSuck: The film ends with the Judge addressing the audience as the jury, asking them to think whether they themselves are good enough drivers to be qualified to sentence Joe. Of course, the answer is very likely "yes," making this fall rather flat.

!!The MST3K treatment provides examples of:
* JuryDuty: When the judge [[BreakingTheFourthWall calls for the viewers to judge Joe]], Joel quips "We're stranded in space and we ''still'' have to pull jury duty."
* SarcasmMode:
-->'''Joe:''' I never hit-and-run!
-->'''Joel:''' Well, ''that'' changes ''everything''!

* [[IronicHell Ironic Purgatory]]: [[spoiler:The judge concludes that the things Joe's guardian angel suffered on-duty repaid his debt for his own driving sins in life, and declares him a free ghost. "What a relief, what a relief..."]]
* MoralEventHorizon: Invoked; when Joe tells the judge that he never committed a hit-and-run, the unimpressed judge explains that if Joe had, he'd have been booked "in a ''lower'' court".

* SarcasmMode:
-->'''Joe:''' I never hit-and-run!
-->'''Joel:''' Well, ''that'' changes ''everything''!