The reason that stars of the caliber of Lee J. Cobb, Luther Adler and Lloyd Bridges showed up in a low-budget western was that at the time they were under investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee, which was charged with rooting out Communists, liberals and other "subversives" in Hollywood, and because of that found themselves virtually unemployable.
The locals at the New Mexico location threw a barbecue for the cast and crew. Lee J. Cobb objected to the slaughter of the calf.
Shot in eight days.
Local citizens were used instead of a professional crew, but when word got back to Hollywood, the craft unions sent their people to the location and the locals were replaced.
Water was very scarce in the area and the stream the miners panned from was artificial and shut off when not in use.