why did frank pentangeli not testify
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. Are any real, historical figures depicted in this film? Is it important to see 'The Godfather' before watching 'The Godfather: Part II'? Rosato Brothers | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom Edit, It could be because he's a smoker. Michael then introduces Johnny to Fredo, and they act like it's the first time they met. Frank "Frankie Five Angels" Pentangeli was a caporegime in the Corleone family. Instead, he flies Pentangeli's brother, Vincenzo, in from Sicily, who appears in the hearing room. Vincenzo's icy stare at his brother during the testimony was a threat that Frank's family would be killed if he testified. 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. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. What is the difference of tie beam and plinth beam? 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. Roger Stone Indictment References 'Frank Pentangeli' From 'the After visiting Florida to seal the deal with Roth, Michael pays an unannounced visit to Pentangeli on Long Island and asks him to help take his revenge. rev2023.5.1.43405. 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 . 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. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal . Cicci has also disclosed this to the FBI. the backstory in the drafts which still had the Clemenza character. Who killed the prostitute found in senator Pat Geary's bed? The only way out is to get what your enemy wants. 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. 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. 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 V. Gazzo Gavin Hammon (voice). Born Francesco Pentangeli in Partinico, Sicily, Pentangeli has an older brother named Vincenzo who remained in Sicily when he immigrated to the United States. 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. One of the policemen acting as an escort guns down Lampone in turn (he turns toward the man's shouts, as if accepting his bullet to the guts with pride). Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. As for Michael asking "who had Frank Pentangeli killed": By that point in Havana, Michael and Roth were in a verbal sparring game. It showed to Frank that his testimony to the Committee would be heard by his brother and family, disgracing him and his family. Vincenzo Pentangeli | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom The actor playing Clemenza, Richard Castellano, and the director FFC, reportedly did not get along all that well. 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. 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. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. This shows that they don't need to get him, they'll get his family instead. Behind the scenes The final film only states that Vincenzo is a powerful and ruthless Mafia chieftain in Sicily. Connie replies that she needs money. Thus, he changed his story, refusing not only to implicate Michael, but anyone.There are two theories as to why Frank did this. That was a lucky break for Frankie--Roth wanted Frankie dead. Once again, family loyalty undoes one of Puzo and Coppola's characters. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? What did Frank Pentangeli say to Michael Corleone? In The Godfather 2, Frankie Pentangeli walks into a bar. 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"). Keep in mind that Michael figured out that the attempt on his life at his home was orchestrated by Hyman Roth. Michael refuses, however, and orders Pentangeli to do nothing, as he does not want a war to interfere with an upcoming deal with Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg), who supports the Rosatos. Why the obscure but specific description of Jane Doe II in the original complaint for Westenbroek v. Kappa Kappa Gamma Fraternity? 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. This made him a popular man to have around. Can I use my Coinbase address to receive bitcoin? If Roth died of natural causes then he would have won/gotten away with it. Suspecting that Hyman Roth was behind the assassination attempt, Michael met with Pentangeli and asked him to help take his revenge. 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. 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. Both brothers know that Fredo must pay for his betrayal with his life, and both try to avoid the inevitable with various delays. He was believed to have been involved in the Sicilian Mafia. And we was like the Roman Empire. How do you clean corroded battery terminals? He also rips off an arm to use as a sword. Frank Pentangeli was an experienced street enforcer before he became Clemenza's right-hand man. 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. 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. In the final scene, Michael sits alone in the family garden at Lake Tahoe. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Fredo refused to give any information, as he didn't know anyway. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Was it just out of guilt or was there another less obvious reason? 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. 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. Later that night, Michael narrowly escapes an assassination attempt at his home. presence motivated Frank to change his story. Why did Vito secure a deal with Fanucci if he already had the intention to kill him? 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]. Why did Frank Pentangeli change his statement? He doesn't mention that Israel would offer him protection against the Italian mobster he tried to bring down. [9] Stone was ultimately pardoned by President Donald Trump. The two stories are told concurrently with the earlier timeline as flashbacks. Surrounded by autumn leaves and alone among the elements, he ought to be proud of his victory. 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. It does not store any personal data. Frankie is portrayed as a crude man with only superficial respect to the mafia families and no deeper understanding. 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 did Frank Pentangeli decide not to testify against Micheal - Reddit Is it possible to reduce 2 kgs in a month? to shame Frankie for betraying his family. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Frank Pentangeli 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. Some characters are clearly inspired by historical persons. Vito builds both a family and a criminal empire thinly covered by an olive oil importing business, and he eventually claims a violent revenge on Ciccio. He only survived due to his own screams, which alerted a nearby police officer. Playing the role originally intended for Peter Clemenza, Pentangeli was written in when. It's safe to say any objections Connie has to Michael's ways and doings are easily solved by her need for financial support. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, Castellano demanded too much money to return and, in addition, wanted his girlfriend at the time to rewrite his dialogue. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The soon to be ousted Cuban president; Fulgencio Batista. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. There's another less obvious reason that was left out of the final cut of the film. What happened during the final Congressional testimony? Caporegime Street boss This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify? 2 Why did Frank Pentangeli change his statement? states that Vincenzo is himself a Mafia chieftain in Sicily. His brother enters the room and Frankie to immediately changes his story. There are two theories as to why Frank did this. Why does Don Corleone give in so easily in The Godfather? I have always had my own theory. Passing negative parameters to a wolframscript. Vincenzo Pentangeli was the elder brother of Frank Pentangeli. Roth betrayed Michael and therefore must die by the hand of the Corleone family. Roth, meanwhile, tries to flee America for sanctuary in Israel, only to be refused asylum and denied permanent entry to the country by ruling of its high court. Why did Pentangeli not testify against Michael? Vito wants to see if he can bargain with Fanucci, and persuade him to cut down on his demands. Edit. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. My read is that Michael was threatening Frankie: he talks and the brother dies. Is it safe to publish research papers in cooperation with Russian academics? Willie Cicci | The Godfather Wiki | Fandom Edit, The movie ends in a montage that shows the sequence of events following Mama Corleone's funeral. Honor is also a factor in the suicides of Ancient Roman noblemenit is a symbolic act that can expiate shame (see Metellus Scipio). There's another less obvious reason that was left out of the final cut of the film. 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. So you'd know that I could hurt you. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. 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). 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 . To Michael, Fredo's act of betrayal is straightforwardly unforgivable, regardless of motive and regardless of whether Fredo had been deceived.It's most likely that Johnny Ola killed the men himself. 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. User Reviews Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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 . Identify blue/translucent jelly-like animal on beach. 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. What is the difference of tie beam and plinth beam? 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. Pentangeli: I live, uh, in an army barracks with the FBI guys. 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. The Corleones kept their word, and Frank's family was well provided for. What caused Vito's raspy voice as an adult? He was a top soldier in the regime of Peter Clemenza (Richard S. Castellano), and took over the regime after Clemenza's death. 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. That much is probably true, although Fredo also makes it clear that he relished the opportunity to operate on his own, independent of Michael. presence, as well as the stare they exchanged, serves as a threat that Who killed the would-be assassinations in the godfather? and our This is unlikely because Fredo seemed completely unaware of the situation. So Fredo thought he was safe. It was believed that the Rosatos had somehow caused the death of Clemenza, having allegedly been promised three territories in The Bronx after he died. 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. He thanked Hagen, returned to his room, and slit his wrists in the bathtub with his shaving razor, killing himself. UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - Politico 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. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. Michael hears this and now knows Fredo has been working with his enemies. is there such a thing as "right to be heard"? 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. A second reason is that seeing his brother makes him feel ashamed for breaking the omert. Why did Frank Pentangeli kill himself in Godfather 2? Fredo, likely drunk says that Johnny Ola took him there. 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. Vito eventually turns out as the head of his own crime organization, because he is the one to realizes that power cannot only be based on violence alone; it depends as much on persuasion, gaining respect and loyalty. Pentangeli takes this as an insult and leaves in anger. Who ordered the hit on Frankie Pentangeli in the Godfather 2? 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. 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. 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. 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 did DOS-based Windows require HIMEM.SYS to boot? What is the ending of the Godfather movie? Which language's style guidelines should be used when writing code that is supposed to be called from another language? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. There are a few reasons for this, the largest of which is resentment at Michael having killed Moe Greene in Godfather I. Because Pentangeli's protective custody was so secure, Michael could not have him killed before the hearing. 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. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. This testimony catches the committee completely off-guard and effectively derails the government's case against Michael. Edit, It's strongly advised that the movies be viewed in sequence. Did the Rosato Brothers kill Peter Clemenza? Pentangeli discussed how tough his brother was, much tougher than himself. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Portrayed by This scene is played very blatantly to bring out it has a deeper meaning, which is that this evidence of disloyalty was then obviously leaked to Roth, who used it to play his card: he faked as if Michael was trying to kill Frankie to punish his disloyalty. Instead, he flew Vincenzo in from Sicily. Frank Pentangeli : Those were the great old days,you know. 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. Pentangeli prefers open warfare against Roth and the Rosatos, but reluctantly obeys Michael's order. 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. However, Castellano demanded too much money to return and, in addition, wanted his girlfriend at the time to rewrite his dialogue. Alternatively it could just be he naturally has a raspy voice. Hagen tells a story about what would happen to traitors during those Roman days, implying that the correct thing for Pentangeli to do now is to kill himself. What is this brick with a round back and a stud on the side used for? Finally, Michael is reluctant to invest in Roth's Cuban business, whereas Fredo seems much more interested. Why would Michael Corleone get approval from Hyman Roth to kill Frankie Pentangeli? The continuation of Michael Corleone's story was written specifically for the film by Coppola and Puzo. And I forgive you.". Why did Frank Pentangeli not testify against Michael? other than having an additional scene where one of Pentangelis men informs Pentangeli that it was, in fact, Michael who ordered the hit. Another Corleone capo,Frank Pentangeli, meets an even sadder and more gruesome fate after betraying Michael. Upon seeing his brother in the committee room, Frank denied his written testimony and feigned ignorance of the Corleone family's criminal activities. Consequently, the immigration inspector (a foreigner himself) gave him entry into the U.S. as Vito Corleone. Pentangeli also intends to testify that Michael personally murdered Captain McCluskey and Virgil Sollozzo (in The Godfather). 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. If he had seen a gun in Vito's hand, he likely would have shut the door and ran. Pentangeli later secretly sided with Vito Corleone and continually reported back to Peter Clemenza what Mariposa was planning, keeping the Corleones one step ahead of the game. @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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For all of the action, the films are deeply psychological, which is an element of their greatness. 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? In contrast, since Pentangeli was a capo, there is no insulation between Michael and himself. 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'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. As she says at the end, "I hated you for so many years. It shows that they would not hesitate to have Neri kill an innocent girl just to put pressure on a senator. Edit, Probably just to see if he could. Stone asked a "Person 2" to "do a Frank . 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? It's been suggested that once Fredo realized that the hitman had attempted to kill Michael and Kay, Fredo killed the gunmen. He is the unquestioned head of the Corleone family. | Did Michael Corleone ever get revenge against those who killed his wife? 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." 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. Frank Pentangeli is a fictional character from the 1974 film The Godfather Part II, portrayed by Michael V. Gazzo. 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. The alternative to this honourable death offered by Hagen is, then, to be thrown into jail, probably getting killed there. is there such a thing as "right to be heard"?
