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
Mu Us Sandyland Mu Us Sandyland The Mu Us Sandy Land (also known as the Maowusu Desert; 毛乌素沙漠/毛烏素沙漠 Máowūsù Shāmò or 毛乌素沙地/毛烏素沙地Máowūsù Shādì) is a desert in Central China. It is crossed by the Great Wall of China at the south-eastern end of the desert. The Mu Us Sandy Land forms the southern portion of the Ordos Desert and part of the Ordos Loop. The Wuding River drains the area, and then flows into the Yellow River. Confusion exists about where the Ordos Desert begins and where the Mu Us Sandy Land ends. The northern portion of the Ordos Desert goes by another