The Painted Desert selected Higgin to direct the film, as well as naming the stars of the film, William Boyd and Dorothy Burgess. Later in the month it was reported that Higgin would head to Arizona to begin location scouting for the film, accompanied by fellow director, Tay Garnett, however in August Higgin began scouting in the Arizona desert with the screenwriter, Tom Buckingham. It was announced that the film would employ over 300 extras. Higgin was familiar with the area, having working in and around Flagstaff, Arizona as a lumberjack prior to his entering the film industry. Towards the end of August
The Desert Within determinant which also flows through us, like it or not, we live in a Judeo-Christian society and our morals are largely structured by it. The notions of our sin and guilt touch everyone in varying degrees. Religion is a controversial and difficult subject, precisely because it is deeply human, and that is why it seemed interesting to raise questions about that. For us the Desert Within is a film about men, not God, and it is men who largely built his fortune or misfortune, as in this case. If God punishes or forgives is no longer relevant, it is Elias,