Victor McLaglen actually served with the Irish Fusiliers in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) during World War I at the same time this story takes place. He eventually rose to be Provost Marshal--equivalent of Police Chief--of Baghdad.
Victor McLaglen, who plays The Sergeant, is the brother of Cyril McLaglen, who played The Sergeant in the earlier (Lost Patrol (1929)_) version of this film.
According to Boris Karloff biographer Peter Underwood the temperature on the Yuma locations could be as hot as 150 degrees and actors were limited to working two hours a day.
The release of the almost complete version on DVD allows viewers to compare it with the edited 1949 re-release. Eliminated in the shorter version is an early shot of Boris Karloff with a book of poetry about the desert, Paul Hanson's reminiscing about J.M. Kerrigan's and Alan Hale's earlier days in the service, and Victor McLaglen and Wallace Ford sharing cigarettes and recalling their wives and sweethearts. Apparently, a boxing match between Hale and Sammy Stein immediately following the death of Billy Bevan, before they all draw lots, is still missing.
Director John Ford's older brother Francis Ford appears in an uncredited role. Francis appeared in many of his brother's pictures in small or uncredited roles.