The movie rights to The Winning of Barbara Worth were sold with eight other of Wright's books to Principal Pictures in 1922. Four years later Samuel Goldwyn paid Principal $125,000, an enormous sum for a picture at the time, for the rights to The Winning of Barbara Worth. Goldwyn said he had two reasons for wanting Barbara Worth's story. First, the book had been such a big seller that it ensured a large audience for the movie. Second, he had always wanted to make a desert epic, and The Winning of Barbara Worth had all the elements needed for a classic movie. Filming was on location in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. Wright was given a voice in the selection of the cast and approved the choice of newcomer Gary Cooper for the part of Abe Lee, one of Barbara Worth's adopted uncles.