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. Why does Frankie Pentangeli immediately change his story when he sees his brother? He also moved into Vito's former estate in Long Beach, Long Island. And we was like the Roman Empire. Edit, It's strongly advised that the movies be viewed in sequence. Though not explicitly stated, it is implied that Roth wanted revenge for the death of Moe Greene (Alex Rocco), a friend of his who was assassinated on Michael's orders in the previous film. Michael hears this and now knows Fredo has been working with his enemies. Despite Michael's best-laid plans, he still entered the family business, much like Vito had intended, as implied through the discussions that Tom mentioned.As for why Michael looks older in the final scene, part of the reason for that is that the lightning is made to showcase just how much the duties of the Don have eaten away at his youthfulness, as several wrinkles can be seen under his eyes. Edit, First, the code of "omerta". Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Why would Michael Corleone get approval from Hyman Roth to kill Frankie Pentangeli? Privacy Policy. When Michael confronted Fredo in Cuba, he ran away and went into hiding. Upon the non-verbal communication with his brother in the court room (someone he absolutely trusts) he realized that it was Hyman Roth that tried to have in killed and not Michael. 6 Who was Frank Pentangeli and what did he do? Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. [3], This character made the national news on January 25, 2019, because he was referenced in the federal indictment of Roger Stone. The actor playing Clemenza, Richard Castellano, and the director FFC, reportedly did not get along all that well. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. What is the ending of the Godfather movie? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Pentangeli was born May 5, 1900 in Partinico, a town in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal . Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. His brother enters the room and Frankie to immediately changes his story. Edit, The Godfather: Part II is based on The Godfather (1969), a novel written by Italian-American author Mario Puzo [1920-1999], source of The Godfather (1972) (1972), the first movie in The Godfather franchise. states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? 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. Then, while out partying with the group, Senator Geary asks how Fredo found out about the club they were in. Died Did Michael Corleone ever get revenge against those who killed his wife? [8] On November 15, Stone was found guilty on all seven counts, obstruction of proceedings, five counts of false statements, and one count of witness tampering. When we first meet him at Anthony's first communion party, he seems both eager to please and a true believer in Michael's new regime, even obsequious. Pentangeli was supposed to be Clemenza. Edit, Michael was leaving Tom in charge of family affairs while Michael focused on the business in Cuba and Vegas. Michael concludes on his own that Roth was behind the assassination attempt. Noteit was Tom who told the story, not Frank. 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 . Who ordered the hit on Michael in Godfather 2? - TimesMojo He doesn't mention that Israel would offer him protection against the Italian mobster he tried to bring down. The Lore of 'The Godfather' Resurfaces at Roger Stone's Trial 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. Tom explains that this was the brother of Frankie. to shame Frankie for betraying his family. Frank Pentangeli | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom He had an Italian wife and children, as well as a mistress, whose children he sent to live in Sicily with his brother Vincenzo. Why core of the Earth is in a semi solid state? He was prone to making rash decisions and would not readily back down from a fight when challenged, particularly on matters of honour, such as his disputes with the Rosato Brothers. Instead, Michael flies Pentangeli's brother, Vincenzo, in from Sicily, and Vincenzo accompanies Michael to the hearing at which Frank is scheduled to testify. It's safe to say any objections Connie has to Michael's ways and doings are easily solved by her need for financial support. Frank Pentangeli is a fictional character from the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, portrayed by Michael V. Gazzo. 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. Pentangeli disappears and is believed to be dead. 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). rev2023.5.1.43405. Frank "Frankie Five Angels" Pentangeli was a caporegime in the Corleone family. After the assassination attempt at Michael's house, Michael had a private meeting with Tom Hagen. (1) Roth returns from Israel and is taken into custody by the police. 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. Michael then introduces Johnny to Fredo, and they act like it's the first time they met. A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. 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. To avenge Moe Greene would be icing on the cake. 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. 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 . Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. 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. Who opened the drapes in Michael's Tahoe bedroom? Frank tells Hagen afterwards that Vincenzo is "ten times tougher" than himself, that he's "old fashioned" and that he could have had his own crime family if he moved to America. The first major event within this ending is the death of Fredo Corleone (John Cazale), Michael's brother. This belief had much to do with the formation of the mafia and its ultimate growth and staying power. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. What should I follow, if two altimeters show different altitudes? So you'd know that I could hurt you. 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 then ends with a flashback to December 1941 as the four Corleone children, their families, and adopted brother Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) are planning a birthday party for Vito, and Carlo Rizzi (Gianni Russo is introduced to Connie Corleone (portrayed by director sister Talia Shire). Frank Pentangeli - Wikipedia Pentangeli takes this as an insult and leaves in anger. 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. This witness has had no buffer between himself and Michael Corleone. He immigrated to New York, United States. He was an old associate and friend of Vito Corleone, having worked with him in the early days of the olive oil business. 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 that testimony claims not to know critical information that he does in fact know."[5][6][7]. Rocco Lampone (Tom Rosqui) shoots Roth dead. What is the difference of tie beam and plinth beam? User Ratings Throughout the film, Roth has tried to project a sense of cool control, but here, he is defeated, slumped, jacket and paper bag in hand, quite aware of the fact that he has failed in his attempt at removing Michael in a grab for power. Which language's style guidelines should be used when writing code that is supposed to be called from another language? Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? It's likely Roth anticipated a hit as well and so asked them to guard his room. . 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.' What happened during the final Congressional testimony? So Roth decided to stage an attempted hit on Frankie to further hinder Michael's plans. What blood type would my parents be if I am O negative? if Frankie follows through with his planned testimony, retribution Vito wants to see if he can bargain with Fanucci, and persuade him to cut down on his demands. Later on we find out that Roth ordered the hit as Michael confronts him about it. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Where did the character Frankie "Five Angels" Pentangeli come from? Pentangeli discussed how tough his brother was, much tougher than himself. Later, at a Senate hearing investigating organized crime and allegations of Michael's criminal activities, Michael learns that the committee intends to call Pentangeli as a surprise witness to contradict Michael's adamant denial that he is a crime boss. MIP Model with relaxed integer constraints takes longer to solve than normal model, why? Instead, the smooth charm he failed to use to quell Michael's questions earlier in the film comes to the surface once more. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. How did Michael know that Roth was behind the assassination attempt at his home, not Frank Pentangeli? He kept his mouth shut to stay alive. Fredo had thought he was safe when Michael said that he forgave him. Also, with enough time passing, Connie's anger towards Michael may have faded. This is unlikely because Fredo seemed completely unaware of the situation. 2 Why did Frank Pentangeli change his statement? Pentangeli's character was created in The Godfather Part II by Coppola and Puzo due to actor Richard Castellano not reprising his role as Clemenza in the sequel. I would assertively say that the capture of Pentangeli's brother by Michael may very well serve as a sign that Hyman Roth is on the dead list. And I forgive you.". He ran the family operations in New York when Michael Corleone was in Nevada. Edit, If you refer to the beginning of the film where Connie (with boyfriend/fiance) tells Michael they're going to Vegas to get married, Michael (opposed to idea) asks why they came to him. We know he was in town, as he met with Michael earlier in the day. Frank assumed his brother would be safe seeing as he was a lonesome shepherd in Sicily with no ties to the mob. Two MacBook Pro with same model number (A1286) but different year. Roth crumples backward in defeat, into the arms of the men and guards surrounding him. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 The 1930s 1.2 Moving up in the family Would My Planets Blue Sun Kill Earth-Life? The alternative to this honourable death offered by Hagen is, then, to be thrown into jail, probably getting killed there. The tactic works, as Fanucci respects Vito's candor and boldness. Puzo and director Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay for The Godfather Part II. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Given Michael's low tolerance for treachery, it is highly probable that something along those lines did indeed happen to them. I did not scream." Tacopina asked why she had not called the police so many times that the judge told him to stop. In The Godfather: Part II Frankie Pentangeli tells Tom a story about the Roman Empire and then he kills himself. Male Aug. 10, 2016. is there such a thing as "right to be heard"? In the end, Mr. Credico did not testify, and invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Avenging the harm done was instead in the hands of the offended. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. Edit, Awards In The Godfather 2, Frankie Pentangeli walks into a bar. Hyman Roth probably wanted to avenge Moe, but more so, he just wanted Michael Corleone dead so he could run his businesses without Michael being in his way trying to take it all. Vincenzo's guardianship. Is it safe to publish research papers in cooperation with Russian academics? 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 also said he couldn't believe that somebody would listen . As she says at the end, "I hated you for so many years. In the Godfather, did Paulie and Carlo actually join the conspiracies for which they are killed? Why is it shorter than a normal address. He ran the family operations in New York when Michael Corleone was in Nevada . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". must not break the Mafia's code of silence, Omert. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Roth was dying, so why did Michael need to kill him? 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. Because Pentangelis protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. Playing the role originally intended for Peter Clemenza, Pentangeli was written in when. He is the unquestioned head of the Corleone family. How do you clean corroded battery terminals? Stone asked a "Person 2" to "do a Frank . Why don't we use the 7805 for car phone chargers? Who killed the prostitute found in senator Pat Geary's bed? Roth simply replies with "He's small potatoes", IE, insignificant in the plot. Then, some theories as to who killed the would-be assassinations can be drawn. 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. | Hagen tells Pentangeli, a history buff, a story about how traitors in ancient Rome could spare their families if they committed suicide; the implication being that Michael will take care of Pentangeli's family if he kills himself. If Vito was born an Andolini, how did he get the name Corleone? Pentangeli subsequently slits his wrists in a bathtub a dual display of love for his family and respect for Michael's authority. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Who killed the would-be assassinations in the godfather? @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. Perhaps after Coppola realized there was no simple way for Pentangeli to conclude that Michael had betrayed him. Caporegime Street boss They ask if he would approach and be sworn in. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. His . Why would the assassin say Michael Corleone says hello if Roth ordered the hit? 5 Who ordered the hit on Frankie Pentangeli in the Godfather 2? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Are there any canonical examples of the Prime Directive being broken that aren't shown on screen? Metacritic Reviews. The first hint comes when Fredo and Michael are greeting everyone. 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. 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. If Michael's journey during "The Godfather" is about how his values and beliefs die off in the name of the mob's code of honor and pleasing his father, then Vito's story is about how opportunity combined with familial devotion and anti-immigrant sentiments to make a velvet-handed monster. How did the Cuban military know there was going to be an attempt on Hyman Roth's life in the hospital? Edit, Viewers are split on whether or not Fredo knew he was going to be killed. This is also spelled out in a cut scene in The Godfather II video game. It's a story of acceptance and pride told in silent pantomime. The jokes end when Rocco Lampone, a Corleone cappo acting on Michael's orders, shoots Roth to death right in the middle of the airport with an eerie, almost rictus, smile on his face. (3) Neri, Fredo, and Anthony are about to go fishing when Michael calls Anthony back, leaving Neri and Fredo to go out alone. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. Ed Sheeran blasts music expert for 'criminal' testimony in trial - Los Is it possible to reduce 2 kgs in a month? At trial of Trump adviser Roger Stone, comedian witness cracks jokes However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Roth demands to know if Michael is pulling out of . Coppola's theme of familial sacrifice is solidly hammered home, thanks to a series of flashbacks which explore the early life of Michael's father, Vito (De Niro). 6 What is the ending of the Godfather movie? Identify blue/translucent jelly-like animal on beach. 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? "He's ten times tougher than me. Frank's nickname, "Frankie Five Angels" was most likely derived from his last name, Pentangeli, because "pente" is the Greek stem for "five" and "angeli" meaning "angels" in Italian. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify? 1959 United States The movie won the 1975 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It showed to Frank that his testimony to the Committee would be heard by his brother and family, disgracing him and his family. So while the avoidance of retribution for his family is the practical reason, the deeper, psychological reason comes from a feeling of deep shame that rekindles his sense of honor. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 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. Frank Pentangeli was an experienced street enforcer before he became Clemenza's right-hand man. Pentangeli disappears and is believed to be dead. In Trump adviser trial, comedian contradicts Stone's account, regales Edit, When Vito arrived at Ellis Island in New York City in 1901, he was asked for his name. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Killing Fanucci would solve most of his problems, but it would be the easy way out. is about to break his blood oath and betray the Corleones to 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. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. government authorities, attends the hearing to remind Frankie that he Why did Frank Pentangeli kill himself in Godfather 2? After the [Senate] hearing, consigliere Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall) visits Frank in custody. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone familys criminal activities. 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. 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. Michael notices this, but likely dismisses it. Did Frank Pentangeli betray Michael Corleone? & Why Did He - YouTube If Roth died of natural causes then he would have won/gotten away with it. His bodyguard is longtime soldier Willi Cicci. It is here that a much more idealistic Michael announces that he's quit college and joined the marines to fight for the Allied side during World War II. Connie, meanwhile, tunes out the drama and eventually leaves the room entirely as Michael and Sonny nearly come to blows. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By having his own brother killed, not to mention the emotional war he has waged against Kay, Michael has become completely corrupted by his role as the Don. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Hagen tells Pentangeli if he accepts responsibility for turning on the Corleone family and kills himself, Frank's family will always be taken care of, just as the families of confessed traitors in the Roman days who killed themselves were allowed to keep all of their possessions. He only survived due to his own screams, which alerted a nearby police officer. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". 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. How did Michael figure out that Fredo betrayed him? The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? That was a lucky break for Frankie--Roth wanted Frankie dead. 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. Who is more powerful IAS or army officer? Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Are any real, historical figures depicted in this film? These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Hagen tells Pentangeli if he accepts responsibility for turning on the Corleone family and kills himself, Frank's family will always be taken care of, just as the families of confessed traitors in the Roman days who killed themselves were allowed to keep all of their possessions. Sheeran accused the musicologist of inaccurately rendering his melodies for the jury, according to the New York Times. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. This testimony catches the committee completely off-guard and effectively derails the government's case against Michael. Pentangeli also intends to testify that Michael personally murdered Captain McCluskey and Virgil Sollozzo (in The Godfather). Is it important to see 'The Godfather' before watching 'The Godfather: Part II'? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The finished film leaves unclear exactly what about his brother [Vincenzo]'s presence [at the hearings] motivated Frank to change his story. 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]. Edit, Michael knew from the start that it was Hyman Roth that tried to have him killed. Later that night, Michael narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at his home. Fredo may have shown them a way to get in to the compound undetected and opened the drapes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Violation of this was considered the ultimate form of disgrace. He also rips off an arm to use as a sword. 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. I was never quite sure about this, but some searching turned up this old thread on another board which discussed it in some detail. Why did Frank Pentangeli kill himself in Godfather 2? Edit, Honor is the principle of this subject. Facing charges of first-degree murder, bookmaking and possession of drug paraphernalia, Pentangeli agreed to testify against Michael. Consequently, the immigration inspector (a foreigner himself) gave him entry into the U.S. as Vito Corleone. 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. Movies & TV Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for movie and TV enthusiasts. How does Senator Geary know Michael Corleone's plan? Willie Cicci | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom The only way out is to get what your enemy wants. A man puts a cord around his neck and says Michael Corleone says hello. the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. Rosato Brothers | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom Later, at a Senate hearing into organized crime, Pentangeli was presented as a surprise witness. 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 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. 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. 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.