Monsignor Renard was a four part ITV television drama set in occupied France during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. It starred John Thaw

John Thaw

John Edward Thaw, CBE was an English actor, who appeared in a range of television, stage and cinema roles, his most popular being police and legal dramas such as Redcap, The Sweeney, Inspector Morse and Kavanagh QC.-Early life:Thaw came from a working class background, having been born in Gorton,...

 as Monsignor Augustine Renard, a French priest who is drawn into the Resistance movement

French Resistance

The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...

. The series was later shown in the U.S. as part of Masterpiece Theatre

Masterpiece Theatre

Masterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on Public Broadcasting Service on January 10, 1971, making it America's longest-running weekly prime time drama series. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions...

.

Plot

In 1940, Monsignor Renard arrives back in his hometown 20 years after leaving to join the Catholic church. The village is filled with reminders of his former life, including Madeleine, his one time fiancée who has never forgiven him for choosing the church over her. The village is also occupied by Nazis preparing to invade England using the town as an embarkation point. Against this Renard performs his Ministry while being drawn ever deeper into the resistance movement.

External links

• Episode guide