The Sequel Never Made

To say I love this story, the 1922 and 1937 and 1950 film versions, would be an understatement. I've always been bothered by the escape of villainous Rupert of Hentzau at the end, as if there was more story yet to tell. It was with great surprise to find that indeed Anthony Hope had written a sequel appropriately titled 'Rupert of Hentzau'. After David O. Selnick had a rousing success with his 1937 version, he tinkered with the idea of a sequel, but given it's tragic ending, and his newfound interest in getting 'Gone With The Wind' on the big screen, he let the idea slide. One can only imagine Ronald Coleman once again giving up his life for his lady fair as he so admirably had done years before in 'A Tale of Two Cities'. And one would think that such a grand story of ill-fated love and romantic heroism told across two books should be worth one more grand retelling in a mini series or pair of movies filmed side by side!