Customer Reviews

Monsignor Renard [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first and, alas, only series of "Monsignor Renard" was originally produced by Carlton TV in 1999. Several more series were originally planned but later scrapped due to the high cost of the first series. When the series was played on Carlton TV in Great Britain, there were four episodes, with a total running time of 295 minutes. Therefore, each episode lasts around 73.75 minutes. However, when Exxon Mobile Masterpiece Theatre presented the drama, it was decided to omit the first episode. In this initial one, Monsignor Renard returns to his boyhood home, the fictitious town of St Josse-des-Bois, to get reacquainted with the townspeople, coping with the first stages of Nazi occupation. Apparently, the first episode was regarded as too slow and boring for American tastes, even those Americans who watch Masterpiece Theatre on a regular basis. Unfortunately, the American video version (NCTS) for sale is the one presented by Masterpiece Theatre, which omits the first episode, although it does retains the illuminating comments of the host, Russell Baker, in his introductions and conclusions to each episode. However, the running time on the outside of the American video for sale is erroneously cited as 360 minutes, which is even longer than the running time cited on the original and uncut British Carlton TV video. It would be most desirable if a way could be found to make available the first episode of "Monsignor Renard" to American audiences who were impressed by the last three. Even so, the three remaining episodes, with their complex and serious depictions of characters, relationships, intertwined with historical events, are well worth watching, for the World War II history buffs and the younger generations alike. John Thaw of Inspector Morse and Kavangh fame is most convincing as a troubled priest, Renard, coming home to face his inner demons as well as those of the townspeople and the German occupiers. The rebellious Etienne Rollinger is well acted by Dominic Monaghan, best known for playing Geoffrey Shawcross to Patricia Routledge's Hetty Wainthrop. Cheryl Cambell, who played Sylvia in an "Inspector Morse" video,"The Infernal Serpent," is persuasive as Madeleine Claveau, Renard's former love before he became a priest.

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I also bought this miniseries to satisfy a Dom-sweet-tooth, and am absolutely in awe of his stunning performance. Be warned that it is far more intense, of course, than Hetty Wainthropp, and much more disturbing than LOTR. It is also sublimely scripted and full of nuance - a brilliant piece of writing and performance. However, the entire first episode was cut from the US version, and it is really crucial to understand the journey of Dom's character, Etienne. I cannot recommend highly enough going to BrandyHall.net and downloading two pivotal cut scenes there in The Gallery. I promise it'll change your entire understanding of Etienne Pierre Rollinger.

John Thaw ("Inspector Morse") does a creditable job of portraying "Msgr. Renard," recently assigned as the parish priest of his tiny home village in the north of France. The Germans have just won the Battle of France, and German occupation troops are everywhere. The conquerors are arrogant and condescending, the defeated are resentful and angry. Adding difficulty to Renard's mission to uphold Christian values and somehow keep the peace between the villagers and the Germans is his own past. It seems he left the village years ago to accept a political posting for the Vatican. Did he abandon his family and neighbors? Is he back now because he failed as a diplomat? Everyone has an opinion, but Renard wisely realizes that the only way he can redeem himself to his parish is to act.

The script is very good, and all of the characters are well drawn. No cartoon Nazis here, no sniveling cowardly sympathizers. Renard's pastoral concerns are realistic, and his relationship with the Germans is tense and frightening.

I was a little put off by the story's abrupt ending, but otherwise I recommend "Monsignor Renard" whole-heartedly.

I first saw this on TVO and like it very much. When I saw it for sale from a "Master Piece Theater" production I ordered it to add to my British collection. When I watch it it seemed to be incomplete so I rewatched the TVO version that I had recorded and was suprised to see it was a longer version. The TVO version was done in 3; 2 hour parts. The "Master Piece Theater" version was only 2;2hoyr parts. The first two hours, That establish all the characters was missing. Needless to saw I was disappointed and have not purchased anything done by "Master Piece Theater" since

I purchased this set primarily as a fan of the actor Dominic Monaghan...while he does not play a large role in the first two episodes, he gives a powerhouse performance in the last. His confession to Monsignor Renard, prior to his death, is heart- breaking. While the actions of his character are reprehensible, you can understand the reasons for them, while not approving the acts.
The ending of the film was a bit abrupt, and I was hopeful for a more tidy conclusion...I wanted to know more about what happened to Alene, as well as what happened with the mother of the young boy killed in the battle of france.
All in all, I recommend this film highly, particularly to fellow fans of Dominic Monaghan.

This production was excellent. I cannot count how many times i have re-watched it! The storyline is excellent and the acting is superb. The memorable John Thaw plays the part excellently and the German actors play the part in a production which could have turned out alot worse, but this was a perfect balance of what i was looking for. I loved this production and am annoyed that they are not going to make another series.

My review is based on the only version I have seen .. the edited DVD version.

Acting, sets and story are all of the high standard that normally comes with the Master Piece Theatre productions.

Missing that first episode does cause some confusion, however with concentration the story unfolds quickly.

Set in a small village in France during 1940, we see a cesspool of humanity through the eyes of a somewhat neutral observer, the priest. Even without the German arrival the town is full of hypocricy, seeking absolution on Sunday for their sins.

When the Germans arrive, they are the catalyst that brings to the forefront the true character of the village. Adulterous, drunkards, wifebeaters, rapists, local police corruption, disrespect for law and order, justified theft, informing and lying about neighbors, brutal and savage beatings with no repentance, intolerance of others, murder and savage anti-semitism.

While the single Gestapo agent is brutal, what is interesting is the assistance of the police and their perception of morality and self justification.

When the German pilots and occupying soldiers are billeted, they interact with local population and it it easy to see why the local women have trouble keeping their legs closed if given the opportunity. The German men are a far better choice to what is available in the limited village gene pool.

With an inability to cope, act maturely or understand the basic principles of conflict resolution the character Etienne is executed. The shock of how events can become uncontrollable and move forward on their own volition is effectively portrayed in the scenes of Etienne's arrest through to his execution.

Anti-semitism has a strong undertone throughout .... not from the Germans, but from the French.

Good movie, but from reading other reviews the unedited VHS may be a better choice.

I saw the PBS Masterpiece Theatre version last year and thought it was AWFUL!!! I then bought the Americanized VHS version and still found it confusing as it was nothing different than what
PBS showed us. I thought PBS was just cutting it to death to provide for their time slot. Now I've read the reason why: The whole first episode was eliminated. No wonder I felt like I interrupted a group of people in the middle of a conversation and could not figure out the topic they were discussing. Anyone else feel that way? The same holds true for Thaw's "The Waiting Time." There, in the middle of a spy vs spy thriller, you get whole scenes (minutes at a time) on screen in German or Russian and no translation as to what is going on between the
characters. I wish Thaw would know about these bastardized productions people are putting out under his name. He would not be too happy.

It is unlikely that the author of this script even knew a good Catholic, much less knew how to write a movie about a heroic, French priest. I've only watched half-way through the series (I can't muster the forebearance to watch any more), but I wholeheartedly disagree with the reviewers who say that the Nazis are not drawn with a heavy hand. They are all portrayed as evil and nasty without the slightest hint of complexity of character. The German military chaplain is given the greatest amount of sympathy, but it's only because he's a slobbering drunk who hates the Nazis for whom he has been drafted into service. Catholicism is about a whole lot more than social justice, but this movie producer has no grasp of what that is. If you want to watch a good film about holy, Catholic priests of World War II, I recommend the Assisi Underground and The Scarlet and the Black.