Difficult to answer, but whatever it seemed to effect Yvette, Mimi, Marie, Denise Laroque, Louise, and even Gruber. Michelle of the Resistance only pretended to have the hots for him. These attractions to René are designed in order to baffle the viewer deliberately, so as to be comedic. Many fans have pointed out that although Rene is feted as the 'hero of the resistance' it is actually Edith who always saves the day and is much braver and cleverer than her husband.