Desert Patrol, 1932

There are two villains in Desert Patrol. The first one introduced is in the opening scenes when "Apache Joe" captures and murders a Texas Ranger. The depiction of Native Americans is as follows:He wears black, early Hollywood Code for outlaws. This is matched by the black worn by Rand, the "brains" end of the outlaw gang and by Steele changing from white clothes to black when he goes undercover.

Apache Joe is called a "loco half breed" which brings the response that he is touchy about his heritage. The insinuation is that being half Indian somehow makes him inferior. It is clear that having an Indian heritage is something to be ashamed of. Later on it is mentioned he wears beads on his vest because his mother was a squaw...a comment that leads to him knocking down Drury, who has had a change of heart and no longer wishes to be an outlaw.

Thus heritage as being an Indian is coded to be something to be embarrassed and ashamed of. The only Native American in the film is a heartless, cruel criminal who keeps others in crime through intimidation and savagery.

A secondary theme is his lack of intelligence. When someone suggests removing Rand from the picture and running the entire smuggling operation them selves, he demures; "We will leave the brain work to him and stick with what we know" which seems to be hanging out guarding some unnamed smuggled goods, intimidation, and not much else.

A final piece in his character is his nature. He is cold, brutal, intimidating, willing to torture, and, as one man refers to him, "He is worse than bull headed. He's an insane savage."

Thus this movie has nothing positive to say about Apache Joe, the half-breed. No sympathetic or neutral images are portrayed. At the same time, it did establish him as an important member in a leadership role. Since this is the first movie reviewed for Dreamcatchers, it is too early to tell if that is a positive or a negative.