why did frank pentangeli not testify
Roth had played Frankie against Michael with a feigned assassination attempt, as he knew Frankie was angry at Michael for banning him from moving against the Rosato brothers. When Fredo went out in the boat with Neri did he know he was going to be killed. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. Fredo may have shown them a way to get in to the compound undetected and opened the drapes. Which language's style guidelines should be used when writing code that is supposed to be called from another language? Like papa was. There are a few reasons for this, the largest of which is resentment at Michael having killed Moe Greene in Godfather I. Is it possible to reduce 2 kgs in a month? Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. Vincenzo was a native of Partinico, Sicily, and remained there when his brother went to America. Then, while out partying with the group, Senator Geary asks how Fredo found out about the club they were in. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The government will continue . The Pentangeli character took the part in the plot which was originally intended for Clemenza, whose death was to be set anti-parallel to the extended sequence in which the young Vito becomes Clemenza's partner. 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. Later on we find out that Roth ordered the hit as Michael confronts him about it. The final film only states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Pentangeli subsequently slits his wrists in a bathtub a dual display of love for his family and respect for Michael's authority. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone familys criminal activities. Pentangeli prefers open warfare against Roth and the Rosatos, but reluctantly obeys Michael's order. It is also confirmed by Coppola himself during the director's commentary track on the DVD. What kind of buildings would be in a medieval town? Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify? In 1958, Pentangeli approached Michael to ask for his help in eliminating the Rosato Brothers, his rivals in New York, who claimed to have been promised territories by Clemenza prior to his death, but Michael refused. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. To avenge Moe Greene would be icing on the cake. Roth betrayed Michael and therefore must die by the hand of the Corleone family. The very last shot we see in "The Godfather:Part II" is a pensive, slow close-up of Michael Corleone as he sits outside at the family compound. Vincenzo Pentangeli was the elder brother of Frank Pentangeli. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Anyway, it suggests the two most probable reasons are: to threaten Frankie, by showing him that his family isn't safe to shame Frankie for betraying his family. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? The soon to be ousted Cuban president; Fulgencio Batista. This made him a popular man to have around. Are any real, historical figures depicted in this film? He knows that Corleone will be out for blood, and now that he's stuck in America, there's no way out. Ironically, only Fredo supports Michael's plan to drop out. (According to Fredo's wife, their bodies were found right outside her and Fredo's room.) Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Frank assumed his brother would be safe seeing as he was a lonesome shepherd in Sicily with no ties to the mob. MIP Model with relaxed integer constraints takes longer to solve than normal model, why? The Senate subcommittee and the FBI thus consider Pentangeli very credible, and are certain that he can corroborate Cicci's testimony and charge Michael with perjury. In turn, Rocco is shot dead by the police while trying to escape. Michael V. Gazzo Gavin Hammon (voice). He was an old associate and friend of Vito Corleone, having worked with him in the early days of the olive oil business. @NapoleonWilson - When Tom goes to visit Frankie in custody and they go through the story about how Romans would commit suicide in order to protect their families and make sure they were taken care of, Frankie mentions his brother was so powerful that he could have come to America and had his own crime family. Just as in the first film, killing the Don or otherwise removing him from his seat of power, will make his next in line Don-in this case, Fredo-who seems much more inclined to continue business with Roth and who can be easily controlled and manipulated. He had an Italian wife and children, as well as a mistress, whose children he sent to live in Sicily with his brother Vincenzo. 6 Who was Frank Pentangeli and what did he do? After the hearing, Corleone family consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) visits Pentangeli in custody. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? You're not going to regret it! However the deal was a set up and Tony Rosato himself garroted Pentangeli, claiming to have been sent by Michael. Vito wants to see if he can bargain with Fanucci, and persuade him to cut down on his demands. According to the indictment, Stone in late 2017 told an associate identified as "Person 2" that they should "do a 'Frank Pentangeli' before [the House Intelligence Committee] in order to avoid contradicting Stone's testimony.' The family leaves Michael alone to brood at the dinner table while they rush to greet the newly-arrived Vito at the doorstep, while Michael takes a fortifying sip of wine. Did the Rosato Brothers kill Peter Clemenza? 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. 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. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Vincenzo and Frank exchange a silent glance before the hearing. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Keep in mind that Michael figured out that the attempt on his life at his home was orchestrated by Hyman Roth. Killing Fanucci would solve most of his problems, but it would be the easy way out. 4 What did Frank Pentangeli say to Michael Corleone? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. After the hearing, Tom Hagen visited Pentangeli. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It was only because Fredo and Neri were supposed to go out fishing with Michael's son, but at the last minute, he was called back. Frank expla. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. 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"). Clemenza is still in the movie, albeit as a younger man in the scenes set in 1917, played by Bruno Kirby. Since the murder was committed during the fireworks ceremony and Vito had properly disposed of the gun, there would be no way that he would have been caught. Connie, meanwhile, tunes out the drama and eventually leaves the room entirely as Michael and Sonny nearly come to blows. 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. Edit, Viewers are split on whether or not Fredo knew he was going to be killed. 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. That goes sideways when Michael never provides Pentangeli with the firepower he needs to protect his territory. Avenging the harm done was instead in the hands of the offended. It only takes a minute to sign up. I took this statement as a way of letting the committee know that if he testifies his entire family will all die quite gruesomely. It's simpler and doesn't require explaining the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. For more information, please see our Journey with us as we explore the ending of this legendary piece of cinematic history and figure out who sleeps with the fishes and who was smart enough to leave the gun and take the cannoli. However, Mariposa grew suspicious of Pentangeli, and Vito Corleone, fearful for his friend's safety, brought Pentangeli under his protection as they prepared for war with Mariposa. 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. Believing that Michael ordered him murdered, Pentangeli provides a sworn statement to investigators that Michael is the head of the most powerful Mafia family in the nation, controls virtually all gambling activity in North America, and has ordered countless murders. Michael went to Roth, saying that he knows Frankie tried to have him killed because Michael tried to have him make a deal with the Rosato brothers. Roth either figured this out or planned to make the false attempt on Frankie and use Michael's name before Michael could make the "actual" attempt. 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. He's beaten the rap the feds had against him, and he's eliminated all of his enemies. I was never quite sure about this, but some searching turned up this old thread on another board which discussed it in some detail. 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. Affiliation 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. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify? Biographical information However, Michael had a history of "forgiving" people (such as Carlo) so that they would stay close, giving him an opportunity to kill them. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. What that doesn't say about Vincenzo, Frank explains later in the film when he's visited by Tom Hagen. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. if Frankie follows through with his planned testimony, retribution Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Trump Ally Roger Stone Arrested in Florida as Part of Special Counsel Probe", "Roger Stone indictment references 'Frank Pentangeli,' a character from 'The Godfather: Part 2', "Godfather makes life difficult for Trump's trickster", "Analysis | Roger Stone, 'The Godfather' and what it means to 'do a Frank Pentangeli', "Trump ally Roger Stone found guilty of lying to Congress, witness tampering", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Pentangeli&oldid=1145333151, This page was last edited on 18 March 2023, at 15:49. The flashback shows that Michael had plans and tried to take control of his own destiny by joining the Marines despite the protests of Sonny and Tom (and, as it's implied, Vito) before he was inevitably drawn in to the Mafia life, which has now fully consumed him. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Michael said he was leaving and Tom would be in charge from then on. Fredo asks if there's anyone in the group he'd know. But his involvement likely ended there. Who said Michael Corleone says hello in the Godfather 2? 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. What should I follow, if two altimeters show different altitudes? Is it possible to reduce 2 kgs in a month? Rather than give in, Coppola wrote out Clemenza, explaining that he'd died in the intervening time between Parts I and II, and replaced him with his Lieutenant, Frankie Pentangeli (Michael V. Gazzo). Frank Pentangeli Pentangeli takes this as an insult and leaves in anger. After the assassination attempt at Michael's house, Michael had a private meeting with Tom Hagen. Later that night, Michael narrowly escapes an assassination attempt at his home. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. I have always had my own theory. How do you clean corroded battery terminals? Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. 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. the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. Consequently, the immigration inspector (a foreigner himself) gave him entry into the U.S. as Vito Corleone. 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 "Frankie Five Angels" Pentangeli was a caporegime in the Corleone family. Edit, It could be because he's a smoker. Who is more powerful IAS or army officer? As we know by the end of the film, Hyman Roth is behind the hit on Michael. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Michael was showing him this wouldn't be the case. He thanks Hagen, returns to his assigned quarters, and despite the presence in the other room of his federal guards, commits suicide by slitting his wrists while taking a bath. This is also spelled out in a cut scene in The Godfather II video game. Frank Pentangeli with Michael Corleone at Lake Tahoe. Fredo had been shown over the "Godfather" and "Godfather II" to be a more easily malleable and accepting of his siblings, though not as passive as Connie is before her marriage. And I forgive you.". 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. 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. Michael then introduces Johnny to Fredo, and they act like it's the first time they met. 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. The final film only states that Vincenzo is a powerful and ruthless Mafia chieftain in Sicily. The look from his brother also meant that Frankies entire life would stand for nothing. Roth crumples backward in defeat, into the arms of the men and guards surrounding him. In scenes that show us Vito's life in the early 1900s, we follow the young man to America after he fleesDon Ciccio, the mobster who has killed his parents and brother in an act of revenge. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Moe's influence allows Fredo to access layers of disappointment and bitterness, which have long been festering under the surface, and when he chooses Green over the Corleones near the end of "The Godfather," a rift between Michael and Fredo develops. "The Godfather, Part II" is a rare sequel which equals (and some might say surpasses)the film which preceded it. Why would Michael Corleone get approval from Hyman Roth to kill Frankie Pentangeli? I always interpreted this along the lines of his brother sitting with. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal . 5 What happened to Clemenza in the Godfather 2? Title(s) What happened to that? Contents 1 Biography 1.1 The 1930s 1.2 Moving up in the family Most damningly, he was prepared to testify that Michael personally murdered Captain McCluskey and Virgil Sollozzo in 1947, and made plans for a mass slaughter of the other New York Dons as early as 1950. Vincenzo's icy stare at his brother during the testimony was a threat that Frank's family would be killed if he testified. In The Godfather Part II, Frank Pentangeli is portrayed as having been one of godfather Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) most trusted associates. This is correct. What caused Vito's raspy voice as an adult? Frank Pentangeli is a fictional character from the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, portrayed by Michael V. Gazzo. Michael notices this, but likely dismisses it. There are a few reasons for this, the largest of which is resentment at Michael having killed Moe Greene in Godfather I. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. I've read the book and seen the film many times and my feeling is the psychological aspect is more of a factor than the implied threat against his children. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. He doesn't mention that Israel would offer him protection against the Italian mobster he tried to bring down. Why did Michael Corleone not forgive his brother Fredo? Stone asked a "Person 2" to "do a Frank . He only survived due to his own screams, which alerted a nearby police officer. Hyman Roth agrees to the hit.This was done by Michael to give Roth a sense of security and superiority that Michael was wrong about who ordered the hit. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript, Generating points along line with specifying the origin of point generation in QGIS. Frankie is portrayed as a crude man with only superficial respect to the mafia families and no deeper understanding. It shows that they would not hesitate to have Neri kill an innocent girl just to put pressure on a senator. However, as with the film, Frank survives and turns traitor for the state, but is persuaded against this by the appearance of his brother Vincenzo. How are engines numbered on Starship and Super Heavy? At one point in his testimony, Frank Pentangeli says "I have a family of my own" (or something very close to that), meaning, they'd be in danger if he testified against the Corleones. 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. What happened during the final Congressional testimony? Why does Michael meet with Hyman Roth and claim Frankie Pentangelli tried to have him killed, but then Michael immediately goes to Frankie to say the same about Roth? If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Ending Of The Godfather, Part II Explained. 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. The final film only states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. What is the significance of the flashback scene at the end of the film, and why is Michael Corleone suddenly looking a lot older after it ends than he had in scenes just prior to it? Fredo subsequently betrays Michael by teaming with rival gangster and former ally Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), which prompts a federal indictment, and Michael soon ties this back to both men. However, many viewers would argue that the "Godfather" sagapeaks here, that it will never be able to improve upon the story of former-idealist Michael Corleone (Pacino)as his all-consuming quest for power. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Should I re-do this cinched PEX connection? But it was tense and awkward. Stone's abusive texts to Credico were read out in court in which Stone called Credico a "maggot", a "rat", a "stoolie" and a "disloyal fuck", encouraging Credico to tell Mueller to "go fuck himself" and threatening to take the comedian's dog away (Credico relies on a medical support dog). Why did Michael Corleone not forgive his brother Fredo? Look closely at that scene. The first is that having Frank's brother show up at the hearing with Michael was a veiled threat that insinuated the brother would be killed as a result of the testimony. Even though at the end, Michael pretended to forgive Fredo, if Michael suggested that Fredo go fishing alone with Al Neri, Michael's personal hitman; Fredo likely would have been suspicious and not have gone along with it and gone back into hiding. He was an old associate and friend of Vito Corleone, having worked with him in the early days of the olive oil business. Michael V. Gazzo as Frank Pentangeli in "The Godfather: Part II." . That much is probably true, although Fredo also makes it clear that he relished the opportunity to operate on his own, independent of Michael. Edit, Though the film itself doesn't provide a definitive answer, the video game adaptation posits that a Corleone hit squad (led by the player character) invades the Rosato estate and kills both brothers. When it comes time to say hello to Johnny Ola, Fredo freezes up and turns away from him. Edit, Awards Michael concludes on his own that Roth was behind the assassination attempt. He ran the family operations in New York when Michael Corleone was in Nevada. He then sent the two men to try and kill Michael while he waited for them at the storm drain. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Randy Credico, a comedian and associate of Stone's testified that he refused to testify to Congress, "taking the Fifth", partly due to pressure from Stone. Some characters are clearly inspired by historical persons. Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. This made him somebody who could be played to make fatal mistakes. The finished film leaves unclear exactly what about his brother's Michael told them to wait, to which Clemenza reluctantly agreed, but Tessio did not and made a deal with Barzini, which resulted in his death. He ran the family operations in New York when Michael Corleone was in Nevada . Later that night, Michael narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his home. An Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Michael knows that Pentangeli's protective custody is too secure to make an attempt on his life before he testifies. Was it just out of guilt or was there another less obvious reason? Once they met him there, he killed them both and snuck out. Pentangeli warns him about the Rosato Brothers, and is garroted in a meeting with Carmine Rosato himself at Richie's Tavern. At the beginning of the hearing, Michael Corleone, the organized crime figure whom Pentangeli is Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Frank Frankie Five Angels Pentangeli was a caporegime in the Corleone family. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". While in Cuba, Michael asks Fredo to bring several family associates out to show them a good time. The movie won the 1975 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. Perhaps after Coppola realized there was no simple way for Pentangeli to conclude that Michael had betrayed him. It's pretty good reading if you've been curious about this too. 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). This is unlikely because Fredo seemed completely unaware of the situation. How did Michael know that Roth was behind the assassination attempt at his home, not Frank Pentangeli? What are the advantages of running a power tool on 240 V vs 120 V? His brother's presence, as well as the stare they exchange, serves as a threat that if Frank follows through with his planned testimony, retribution will be taken against his children, who are living in Sicily under Vincenzo's guardianship. It is used as a form of honorable protest (see Cato the Younger). | In the Godfather, did Paulie and Carlo actually join the conspiracies for which they are killed? Why would Kay think she could announce to Michael that she and the children were leaving for good - and he'd be okay with it? Coppola, in his director's commentary on The Godfather Part II, mentioned that the scenes depicting the Senate committee interrogation of Michael Corleone and Pentangeli are based on the Joseph Valachi federal hearings and that Pentangeli is like a Valachi figure.[1]. Near the beginning of the story, Pentangeli approaches Michael to ask for his help in eliminating the Rosato brothers, rivals in New York, who claimed to have been promised territories by Clemenza prior to his death. Rocco Lampone (Tom Rosqui) shoots Roth dead. Identify blue/translucent jelly-like animal on beach. What happens if my connecting flight is delayed past the 3-day limit for the COVID-19? It only takes a minute to sign up. Who killed the prostitute found in senator Pat Geary's bed? Honor is also a factor in the suicides of Ancient Roman noblemenit is a symbolic act that can expiate shame (see Metellus Scipio). The evidence presented also showed that Stone urged Credico on multiple occasions to invoke his constitutional right not to testify and made references to Frank Pentangeli - a character in the . Boolean algebra of the lattice of subspaces of a vector space? When he collaborates with the FBI telling them about the Corleone family, he also reveals his implications, the crimes he had committed for the family. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Metacritic Reviews. E. Jean Carroll, who testified former President Trump raped her, says in civil trial that women of her generation were 'not trained to call the police, ever.'