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
Tule Desert (Nevada) at the south end of the Tule Springs Hills. Access is via a county road east from Lyman Crossing along the Union Pacific railroad line between Carp and Elgin in Meadow Valley Wash. The road continues on to the south between the Mormon and East Mormon mountains to connect with Interstate 15 in Nevada at exit 100 west of Mesquite in Clark County. Tule Desert (Nevada) The Tule Desert is located in southeastern Nevada in Lincoln County, near the Utah state line. The desert lies northeast of the Mormon Mountains, south of the Clover Mountains and west of the Tule