he long running British series about a French cafe-owner during WWII in German-occupied France.
The French: René Artois (Gorden Kaye) is a cafe owner in German occupied France, and while he struggles with this situation he also must keep all his mistresses (Yvette, Maria) from knowing about each other (and keep his wife Edith Melba Artois both out of his bed and unaware of the mistresses), struggle with being a forced Resistance fighter (they won't take no for an answer when they want to store some downed British airmen in his place, and on assignments) and a "friend" of the German occupiers (as in, he helps hide paintings for "after the war"). Wife Edith "entertains" the cafe patrons with songs and dance (most try block their ears from the singing), and Yvette, Maria, and later Mimi serve as waitresses and occasionally go upstairs with the Germans. Monsieur Alphonse is the old rich undertaker who fancies Edith. Roger LeClerc is the old piano player in the cafe and Resistance fighter (forger). Michelle Dubois is the lead Resistance fighter in the series.
The Germans: Colonel Kurt von Strohm is the man in charge, until he is displaced by General Erich von Klinkerhoffen because of some sloppy work by Strohm. Private Helga Geerhart is both Strohm's secretary and the "friend" (somewhat forced) of Herr Otto Flick (the head SS man in the area, related to the head of the entire SS). Lieutenant Hurbert Gruber is the tank commander, servant to General Klinkerhoffen, and the German that fancies Rene Artois.
The English: Flying Officer Carstairs and Fairfax are the two English airmen who hide and wait to be sent back to England (throughout most of the series). Officer Crabtree is the Englishman pretending to be a French policeman, and who has a faulty grasp of French.
Comments
Just briliant!