Hagen tells Frank that he did the right thing by recanting. What that doesn't say about Vincenzo, Frank explains later in the film when he's visited by Tom Hagen. The filing goes on to say: "Frank Pentangeli is a character in the film 'The Godfather: Part II,' which both Stone and Person 2 had discussed, who testifies before a congressional committee and in . Upon this realization, he recants on his statements against Michael that would have put him in prison for perjury (lying under oath) Knowing that now Frankie had broken his FBI deal, and was looking at a life sentence, he cuts a deal with Tom as so his family and possible Willy Cici's family could keep their fortunes as Frankie is the head of his own New York Crime Family. Cicci has also disclosed this to the FBI. Clemenza is still in the movie, albeit as a younger man in the scenes set in 1917, played by Bruno Kirby. The actor playing Clemenza, Richard Castellano, and the director FFC, reportedly did not get along all that well. Why did Frank not testify? Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Keep in mind that Michael figured out that the attempt on his life at his home was orchestrated by Hyman Roth. 2 Why did Frank Pentangeli change his statement? Edit, Al Neri (Richard Bright). He is visibly angry with Michael when they are discussing Greene. Edit, Honor is the principle of this subject. What is the difference of tie beam and plinth beam? Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In contrast, since Pentangeli was a capo, there is no insulation between Michael and himself. Cookie Notice Why didn't Saito kill himself when he was stuck in limbo? Gazzo was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance, which he lost to Robert De Niro, his co-star from the same film (as young Vito Corleone). Even at that age, young Vito was intelligent and known that having loose lips got his father and his brother killed. A second reason might be that Michael is getting too much power and influence at the expense of other powerful mobsters, including Roth himself, so they try to kill him. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. The final film only states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone familys criminal activities. Once they met him there, he killed them both and snuck out. This second movie serves as both a prequel and a sequel to the first movie, which covers the years from 1945 to 1955 and portrays how and why Don Vito Corleone moved his family's business from New York to Las Vegas. One final flashback to 1941 shows the Corleones as a happy family at a birthday dinner for Vito, as remembered by an exhausted and disgusted Michael after Fredo's murder. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Violation of this was considered the ultimate form of disgrace. Hagen subtly told Pentangeli that he did the right thing by recanting, and that if he accepted responsibility for turning on the Corleone family, his own family would always be taken care of and remained unharmed, as had happened with insurrectionists against the Roman Emperors. However, he breaks his agreement with the FBI and denies all he had previously said. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Why does Michael Corleone use Johnny Ola in Godfather 2? How do you clean corroded battery terminals? Frightened, Frank recants his earlier statements, saying he "told the FBI guys what they wanted to hear," and now claims that the Corleone family is innocent of any wrongdoing, thus perjuring himself before the Senate committee. What happens if my connecting flight is delayed past the 3-day limit for the COVID-19? There is also a third Godfather movie, The Godfather Part III (1990) (1990). Edit, She probably reasoned with the "ubi maior, minor cessat" principle, thinking that if she had left without warning Micheal of it, he would probably have tried to kill her. Michael then goes to Frankie to reveal that he knows it was actually Roth behind the hit. Edit, There are several possible reasons. A policeman steps inside, and the attack degenerates into a shootout in the street. He was believed to have been involved in the Sicilian Mafia. Two MacBook Pro with same model number (A1286) but different year. Would My Planets Blue Sun Kill Earth-Life? Piety forms Fredo's ultimate response his murder: He's shot to death by Michael's assassin, Al Neri (Richard Bright), while he prays the rosary in a rowboat in the middle of Lake Tahoe during a fishing trip. Who killed Johnny Ola's gunmen? Pentangeli warns him about the Rosato Brothers, and is garroted in a meeting with Carmine Rosato himself at Richie's Tavern. ca. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Frank Pentangeli : I don't - I never knew no godfather. 3 Did Michael order the hit on Pentangeli? It only takes a minute to sign up. His widow would have to move out of the Corleone house and find someplace to live, while Frankie's kids would be shamed as the sons of a traitor, just like his brother Vincenzo. The finished film leaves unclear exactly what about his brother [Vincenzo]'s presence [at the hearings] motivated Frank to change his story. However, Michael had a history of "forgiving" people (such as Carlo) so that they would stay close, giving him an opportunity to kill them. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. Puzo and director Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather Part II. Why is it shorter than a normal address. His bodyguard is longtime soldier Willi Cicci. Michael then goes to see Frankie and reveals that he knows it was Roth who betrayed him. Why would Michael Corleone get approval from Hyman Roth to kill Frankie Pentangeli? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. What happened during the final Congressional testimony? The Corleone family was like the Roman Empire. [2], An early draft of the film's script explains that Vincenzo, shocked that his brother is about to betray the Corleones, attends the hearing to remind Frank that he must not break the Mafia's code of silence, omert. Michael said he was leaving and Tom would be in charge from then on. It also has the advantage of giving Fanucci a false sense of security, making it easier to catch the Don off guard for the assassination. The montage in the "Godfather: Part II" is even more ambitious, as it cuts between the present and the past, building ripples, echoing back to previous incidents and making a tragically cohesive whole. This is a valid answer as Frank's first thought was that it was Michael that placed the hit on him, which is exactly what Roth wanted him to think.However, when he realizes it was not Michael he feels shame for having betrayed the Corleone family. In an early draft of the script, it was mentioned that Frank had a mistress and child in Sicily under the care of Vincenzo, but he would kill them should Frank testify against Michael. Vincenzo Pentangeli was the elder brother of Frank Pentangeli. What is the ending of the Godfather movie? In the Godfather, did Paulie and Carlo actually join the conspiracies for which they are killed? Edit, It may have been implied that Fredo betrayed Michael by opening the bedroom drapes to give Johnny Ola's (Dominic Chianese) hitmen a better view into the room. Frank is a caporegime in the Corleone family, running the family's operations in New York City while Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), his brother and underboss, Fredo (John Cazale), consigliere Tom Hagen and the other two capos, Rocco Lampone (Tom Rosqui) and Al Neri (Richard Bright), are based in Nevada. Instead, he flies Pentangeli's brother, Vincenzo, in from Sicily, who appears in the hearing room. Metacritic Reviews. Why does Frankie Pentangeli immediately change his story when he sees his brother? A man puts a cord around his neck and says Michael Corleone says hello. Michael also seems to doubt that Roth is truly dying: as they plan the hit, he says "He's been dying of the same heart attack for 20 years.". This act itself already means he is dead from the perspective of any of the mafia families, and could only hope to live under an FBI programme with a false identity. Pentangeli thinks that Michael wanted him murdered, so he initially turns on Michael and gives incriminating statements about him to the feds, who are trying to get Corleone on perjury.. He holds court with the press, entertaining them, even making them crack up at his jokes, but his expression is one of knowing doom and uneasiness. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? So Fredo thought he was safe. Stone was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and charged with seven counts through an indictment in the Mueller investigation; one count of obstructing an official proceeding, five counts of false statements, and one count of witness tampering. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify? Who is more powerful IAS or army officer? The FAQ items below may give away important plot points. His boss, Frank Pentangeli, was brought in as a surprise witness to corroborate Cicci's testimony; as a capo there is no insulation and insult between Michael and himself or any of their assets. Frank Pentangeli : Those were the great old days,you know. And I forgive you.". From Wikipedia: The finished film leaves unclear exactly what about his brother's presence motivated Frank to change his story. At the beginning of the hearing, Michael Corleone, the organized crime figure whom Pentangeli is But when he talks about this with Roth, he says that he believes it was Pentangelli. When that fails, Roth tries to cripple Michael's business through Pentangeli's testimony at the senate hearing. He is nicknamed "Frankie Five Angels" from his last name, which is formed from the Greek-derived prefix penta- (meaning "five") and the Italian word angeli ("angels"). The final film only states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. At this point Frankie cuts a deal with the Corleones to end his own life for the sake of his family to keep their fortune instead of being wiped out. In the end, Mr. Credico did not testify, and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In The Godfather 2, Frankie Pentangeli walks into a bar. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Fredo, who had unknowingly conspired with Michael's enemies, informs Michael that the hearing was engineered by Roth as part of his plan to eliminate him from the scene; plus, the committee's lawyer is on Roth's payroll. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". He ordered Pentangeli to do nothing, as he did not want a war to interfere with an upcoming deal with Hyman Roth, who supported the Rosato Brothers. He has nothing left in his life but the trappings of wealth and power, and the business of being the head of the Corleone family: a position he never wanted in the first place, always meant for the family-loving but utterly ruthless Sonny. I did not scream." Tacopina asked why she had not called the police so many times that the judge told him to stop. Who opened the drapes in Michael's Tahoe bedroom? In case there would have been a police investigation, Vito could easily claim (and the people present in the restaurant could be witnesses) that he and Fanucci had a truce and, therefore, had no motive to kill him. Frank Pentangeli was an experienced street enforcer before he became Clemenza's right-hand man. Pentangeli subsequently slits his wrists in a bathtub a dual display of love for his family and respect for Michael's authority. He has lost Kay (Diane Keaton), his wife, who so abhors the changes in him that she aborted their third child and lied that she miscarried while he was off in Cuba. Michael responded by bringing Frankie's brother in the courtroom signifying they have his family. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? It ends in 1925 when Vito ( Robert De Niro) returns to Sicily with his wife and four young children-Sonny, Fredo, Michael, and Connie-in order to kill the man who killed his parents. But you were just being strong for us. The final film only states that Vincenzo is a powerful and ruthless Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Whats the difference between Fundrise and a REIT? Later on we find out that Roth ordered the hit as Michael confronts him about it. An early draft of the film explains that Vincenzo, shocked that Frankie is about to break his blood oath and betray the Corleones to government authorities, attends the hearing to remind Frankie that he must not break the Mafia's code of silence, Omert. 1900[1] Partinico, Sicily, Italy Edit, No. As Hagen arrives to talk with Senator Pat Geary (G.D. Spradlin) to explain his situation, Neri appears in the doorway and Hagen beckons with his head for him to go away. His brother enters the room and Frankie to immediately changes his story. With his intense, distraught expression, Pacino communicates one simple message Michael has learned too late that a life lived without love is a life not worth living. "He's ten times tougher than me. The movie's denouement resembles that of the film-concluding montage in the original "Godfather," which, during the christening of Connie Corleone (Talia Shire)'s son, shows the bloody murders of Michael Corleone's rivals. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. In the 1950s, Clemenza and Tessio requested the opportunity to start their own families, as Emilio Barzini had been chipping away at their territories. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The third one that was always in the back of my mind is that it clears up in Frankie's head that Michael didn't arrange to have him killed. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Why did Michael Corleone only kill Carlo in the car? As we know by the end of the film, Hyman Roth is behind the hit on Michael. In an earlier scene, Frankie, in a clear and obvious manner, shows his anger and disrespect to Michael because he is banning him from defending his own territory. (3) Neri, Fredo, and Anthony are about to go fishing when Michael calls Anthony back, leaving Neri and Fredo to go out alone. Others point out that, when Michael told Anthony at the last minute that they were leaving, Fredo was left in the boat with Al Neri. This got Frankie scared enough for his life to break omerta by talking to the FBI. When Credico was called to testify to Congress, Stone allegedly invoked "The Godfather," telling Credico to do a "Frank Pentangeli" and not contradict his testimony, messages show, according to . The code originated in Sicily, long invaded and ill-treated by foreign governments, and states that one should never, no matter how they or their families are harmed, go to the authorities. The finished film leaves unclear exactly what about his brother's Michael carrying out the murder of his brother also carries additional weight: in the flashback, Fredo is the only one who is supportive of Michael's plans.The scene is also one final indicator of Vito's impact throughout the events of the film series, even though he doesn't physically appear in the scene: Michael notes that Sonny is speaking like Vito while Tom mentions that he and Vito have had conversations about Michael's future. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 5 Who ordered the hit on Frankie Pentangeli in the Godfather 2? The final film only states that Vincenzo is a powerful and ruthless Mafia chieftain in Sicily. What blood type would my parents be if I am O negative? While in Cuba, Michael asks Fredo to bring several family associates out to show them a good time. Roth demands to know if Michael is pulling out of . How do you choose a dog that is right for you? Michael knows that Pentangeli's protective custody is too secure to make an attempt on his life before he testifies. However, Castellano demanded too much money to return and, in addition, wanted his girlfriend at the time to rewrite his dialogue. But in doing what he's done, he has lost his once-loyal brother. Edit, Michael was leaving Tom in charge of family affairs while Michael focused on the business in Cuba and Vegas. He told FBI agents, and was prepared to tell the committee, that Michael was the most powerful Mafia chief in the nation, and headed a crime family that controlled all of the gambling in North America and had ordered countless murders. Michael notices this, but likely dismisses it. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. Edit, The Godfather: Part II tells two stories in two different timelines. It's likely Roth anticipated a hit as well and so asked them to guard his room. The only way out is to get what your enemy wants. Are any real, historical figures depicted in this film? Michael mentions Hyman Roth and Johnny Ola. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He was an old associate and friend of Vito Corleone, having worked with him in the early days of the olive oil business. An early draft of the film's script explains that Vincenzo, shocked that Frankie is about to break his blood oath and betray the Corleones to government authorities, attends the hearing to remind Frankie that he must not break the Mafia's code of silence, omert. Consequently, the immigration inspector (a foreigner himself) gave him entry into the U.S. as Vito Corleone. Why did Michael Corleone not forgive his brother Fredo? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". There are a few reasons for this, the largest of which is resentment at Michael having killed Moe Greene in Godfather I. Some characters are clearly inspired by historical persons. The final film only states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Michael V. Gazzo as Frank Pentangeli in "The Godfather: Part II." . Born It showed to Frank that his testimony to the Committee would be heard by his brother and family, disgracing him and his family. In The Godfather: Part II Frankie Pentangeli tells Tom a story about the Roman Empire and then he kills himself. After the hearing, Tom Hagen visited Pentangeli. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. If Vito was born an Andolini, how did he get the name Corleone? What did Frank Pentangeli say to Michael Corleone? In the Godfather 2, Michael Corleone was put in an impossible situation, where his former Capo regime and close associate Frank Pentangeli, was going to appear before the senate and be a. Edit, Viewers are split on whether or not Fredo knew he was going to be killed. Until the time is right.Johnny Ola then calls Fredo to try and find out if Frankie was genuine in his wanting of peace (given how outspoken Frankie was about wanting the Rosatos dead). , Grew up in an Irish-Italian neighborhood. The alternative to this honourable death offered by Hagen is, then, to be thrown into jail, probably getting killed there. I feel that in part two, it explains that Vincenzo, s. Noteit was Tom who told the story, not Frank. Michael tells Kay afterwards that what happened at the hearing was a personal matter between the brothers. The continuation of Michael Corleone's story was written specifically for the film by Coppola and Puzo. As Connie is transformed by Carolo Rizzi's physical abuse, so does Fredo change after falling under the sway of hitman Moe Green (Alex Rocco). Edit, The flashback scene is significant for several reasons.For one thing, consider the fact that it takes place immediately after the hit against Fredo is carried out. will be taken against his children, who are living in Sicily under Died He kept his mouth shut to stay alive. and our Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. The two stories are told concurrently with the earlier timeline as flashbacks. This tendency also helped him become integrated with Mariposa in the 1930s, and avoid suspicion even whilst acting as a spy. Frank Pentangeli is a fictional character from the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, portrayed by Michael V. Gazzo. Privacy Policy. In The Godfather Part II, Frank Pentangeli is portrayed as having been one of godfather Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) most trusted associates. Rather than give in, Coppola wrote out Clemenza, explaining that hed died in the intervening time between Parts I and II, and replaced him with his Lieutenant, Frankie Pentangeli ( Michael V. Gazzo ). Michael concludes on his own that Roth was behind the assassination attempt. Roth crumples backward in defeat, into the arms of the men and guards surrounding him. "Mafiosi are known among themselves as 'men of honour' or 'men of respect'.". Roth betrayed Michael and therefore must die by the hand of the Corleone family. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. Then, while out partying with the group, Senator Geary asks how Fredo found out about the club they were in. This belief had much to do with the formation of the mafia and its ultimate growth and staying power. What is the difference of tie beam and plinth beam? Cicci had testified to this as well, but was unable to directly implicate Michael in illegal activity because he never received direct orders from him. Michael asks Frankie to make peace with the Rosatos to bide their time. In this scene, Frankie was just acting drunk, the crude man he is, but this behaviour was a display of disrespect, and it had the consequence that his angry and dissatisfied feelings were revealed. New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition. Aug. 10, 2016. Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. Answer (1 of 9): Frank's reaction when his brother enters the room says it all. Puzo, Mario and Coppola, Francis Ford. (2) Frank Pentangeli is found dead in his bathtub, having slit his wrists. Then, some theories as to who killed the would-be assassinations can be drawn. In The Godfather 2 Frankie Pentangeli is before a committee ready give evidence against Michael Corleone. This made him a popular man to have around. The Godfather Part II Roth secretly plans to assassinate Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greenes murder (as depicted in The Godfather). A minor scale definition: am I missing something? When Michael confronted Fredo in Cuba, he ran away and went into hiding. His brother's presence [at the Senate hearing], as well as the stare they exchanged, serves as a threat that if Frankie follows through with his planned testimony, retribution will be taken against his children, who are living in Sicily under Vincenzo's guardianship. Once he realized he was going out on the lake with the family's most trusted killer, Fredo probably realized he was going to be whacked and accepted his fate. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. However, Castellano demanded too much money to return and, in addition, wanted his girlfriend at the time to rewrite his dialogue. I think that I did things to myself; to hurt myself. In The Godfather 2, Frankie Pentangeli walks into a bar. presence, as well as the stare they exchanged, serves as a threat that This is also spelled out in a cut scene in The Godfather II video game. Who ordered the hit on Frankie Pentangeli in the Godfather 2? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Affiliation The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Ciccio was a frail, doddering old man who no longer posed any threat, but he had to die by Vito's hand for his actions against the Andolini family. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Because Pentangeli's protective custody is so secure, Michael knows he will be unable to have him killed before the trial. Male Edit, The senate did question this. (1973, September 24). Finally, Michael is reluctant to invest in Roth's Cuban business, whereas Fredo seems much more interested. It's simpler and doesn't require explaining the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. The second story begins in 1958 as Vito Corleone's grandson Anthony (James Gounaris), son of Michael (Al Pacino) and Kay (Diane Keaton) Corleone, makes his First Communion and ends about a year or two later when young Anthony, his uncle Fredo (John Cazale), and Al Neri (Richard Bright) go fishing. Mariposa family Corleone family Both brothers know that Fredo must pay for his betrayal with his life, and both try to avoid the inevitable with various delays. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Which language's style guidelines should be used when writing code that is supposed to be called from another language? Can you still use Commanders Strike if the only attack available to forego is an attack against an ally? Anyway, it suggests the two most probable reasons are: to threaten Frankie, by showing him that his family isn't safe. Pentangeli prefers open warfare against Roth and the Rosatos, but reluctantly obeys Michael's order. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? Additionally, some believe that the scene is meant to take place in the future and that Michael is picturing a time he can never get back or that he is reflecting on how he tried to separate himself from the rest of his family (evidenced by the fact that he remains behind in the dining room while everyone else goes to greet Vito) but was inevitably drawn into their business, losing several of them permanently in the process. It's a story of acceptance and pride told in silent pantomime. Her vow to remove their children from the mob lifestyle will result in a divorce and have incredibly sad repercussions for both characters and their two children in the third film (and we will learn in the next movie that both Kay and Anthony knew that Michael ordered the hit on Fredo before the abortion took place). His brother's Did Michael Corleone ever get revenge against those who killed his wife? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Pentangeli takes this as an insult and leaves in anger. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. Frank Pentangeli is a character in the film The Godfather: Part II, which both STONE and Person 2 had discussed, who testifies before a congressional committee and in that testimony claims not to . It is explained that, by the time of the film, Clemenza has died under suspicious circumstances; when Fredo mentions that Clemenza died of a heart attack, Corleone hitman Willi Cicci scoffs, That was no heart attack, implying that Clemenza may have been murdered. Why does Michael Corleone need a bodyguard to translate for him when he first met Apollonia's father? Boolean algebra of the lattice of subspaces of a vector space? This testimony catches the committee completely off-guard and effectively derails the government's case against Michael. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Why did Frank Pentangeli kill himself in Godfather 2? the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. Except that Frankie Five Angels tells Tom Hagen that his brother could have had his own family but chose to stay in "that one-mule town." It shows that they would not hesitate to have Neri kill an innocent girl just to put pressure on a senator. Michael announces that, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he has joined the Marines, shocking everyone, especially after the strings Vito had to pull to get him a draft deferment.