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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: DeathByClotheshanger]
#771538
04/04/14 04:12 PM
04/04/14 04:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,762 Anytown, USA
goombah
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,762
Anytown, USA
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I can see the points about Michael not killing Fredo in Havana. But to play devil's advocate, here are the reasons Michael could have had Fredo die in Cuba: 1) it was bedlam there with the overthrowing of Batista for (presumably) Castro. Michael would have had an easier way to have Fredo killed amidst the chaos. Plus at that point, Michael believes that Roth was killed by his bodyguard. He may have figured that killing Fredo in Cuba, combined with Roth's assassination, were the end of those responsible for the Tahoe attempt.
2) Michael's look of devastation at learning that Fredo was the traitor. Let's not forget that the disappointment Michael must have felt was immeasurable. I admit that it's unlikely, but what if just once Michael acted more like Santino than his father when learning Fredo was behind the Tahoe attempt? The odds say Michael would remain in control, but he still had his own faults.
I love the "what ifs" regarding this movie. Great topic.
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: DeathByClotheshanger]
#771549
04/04/14 06:31 PM
04/04/14 06:31 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,525
Lou_Para
Underboss
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Underboss
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,525
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IMHO,Fredo would have been a dead man either way. Mike knew about the betrayal in Cuba,so the boat house scene,while poignant,didn't result in Mike suddenly deciding to kill his brother.I believe that Mike made the call much earlier.
To make my case,I am going with a few assumptions that I think are feasible. One,in the overall Mafia community,the news of Fredo's treachery would get out to the other Families. Two,Mike's rep would suffer by having his own brother go against him. Three,the Corleone's would be seen as a Family beset by internal problems,hence a possible takeover target. Four,Mike himself would be a laughing stock.
Given Mike's general ruthlessness,and his twisted enjoyment of his newfound power,he saw no other option than to kill Fredo,knowing that regardless of the official version,the people "in the loop" (both friends and foes) would know damn well that Mike killed his own brother.
In Mike's mind,this was the sledgehammer move,much like the totally unnecessary hit on Roth at the airport. His only concern was to show the (under)world,that the Corleone's,like the Bochiccio's,would not leave any insult unavenged,regardless of the consequences,and that Mike was not to be crossed by anyone.
Last edited by Lou_Para; 04/07/14 01:10 PM.
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: DeathByClotheshanger]
#771792
04/05/14 07:16 PM
04/05/14 07:16 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 98 New York, NY
Questadt
Button
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Button
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 98
New York, NY
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Would Mike allowed him to live?
I think so. If Fredo had opened up earlier about the plan against Michael, and his own involvement in it, I think Mike would have spared his brother's life. Maybe he still would have cast him out of the family for good, but he wouldn't have resorted to killing him.
What do you think? It sounds plausible to me. At the car outside Battista's presidential palace as Michael was preparing to leave for the airport, there was real concern in his voice as he called out: "Fredo! Come with me! You're still my brother. Fredo!" It sounded to me as if he still cared for his brother...
"A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns."
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: Questadt]
#771900
04/06/14 01:45 PM
04/06/14 01:45 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468 With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
dontomasso
Consigliere to the Stars
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Consigliere to the Stars

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 11,468
With Geary in Fredo's Brothel
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Would Mike allowed him to live?
I think so. If Fredo had opened up earlier about the plan against Michael, and his own involvement in it, I think Mike would have spared his brother's life. Maybe he still would have cast him out of the family for good, but he wouldn't have resorted to killing him.
What do you think? It sounds plausible to me. At the car outside Battista's presidential palace as Michael was preparing to leave for the airport, there was real concern in his voice as he called out: "Fredo! Come with me! You're still my brother. Fredo!" It sounded to me as if he still cared for his brother... Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
"Io sono stanco, sono imbigliato, and I wan't everyone here to know, there ain't gonna be no trouble from me..Don Corleone..Cicc' a port!"
"I stood in the courtroom like a fool."
"I am Constanza: Lord of the idiots."
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: dontomasso]
#771904
04/06/14 01:56 PM
04/06/14 01:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696
AZ
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One thing that's always puzzled me: Michael was frantic to get Fredo on that plane out of Havana--I'm guessing because he wanted to pump Fredo for more information on his betrayal. First thing he asks Tom when he's back in Nevada is, "Where's my brother?" But when Tom tells him that he think's Fredo's in NY, Michael simply says, "Get word to him," etc. Suddenly the pressure was off. Michael could have arranged to have Fredo found and brought to him ASAP. Instead, he waited until after his ass got into a crack at the Senate hearing befoe telling Tom, "I want to speak to Fredo." 
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: DeathByClotheshanger]
#771984
04/07/14 08:45 AM
04/07/14 08:45 AM
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 831 New Market, MD
DeathByClotheshanger
OP
Underboss
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OP
Underboss
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 831
New Market, MD
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I think he wanted to see if Fredo would come back to him, somewhat on his own. He never did.
Last edited by DeathByClotheshanger; 04/07/14 08:45 AM.
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: olivant]
#772290
04/09/14 08:31 AM
04/09/14 08:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696 AZ
Turnbull
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,696
AZ
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As Fredo told Michael, "I didn't know it was gonna be a hit." I believe him. Roth and Ola didn't tell Fredo it was gonna be a hit. Fredo didn't ask if it was gonna be a hit. So, he literally didn't know it was gonna be a hit. He could have inferred it was gonna be a hit if he gave it a moment's thought. He didn't want to.
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
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Re: If Fredo had gotten into Mike's car in Cuba...
[Re: Turnbull]
#772305
04/09/14 10:09 AM
04/09/14 10:09 AM
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,030 Texas
olivant
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 15,030
Texas
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As Fredo told Michael, "I didn't know it was gonna be a hit." I believe him. Roth and Ola didn't tell Fredo it was gonna be a hit. Fredo didn't ask if it was gonna be a hit. So, he literally didn't know it was gonna be a hit. He could have inferred it was gonna be a hit if he gave it a moment's thought. He didn't want to. Only true TB if Roth told him what they intended to do that they did do. Don't forget that Fredo also told Ola that he and Roth lied to him.
"Generosity. That was my first mistake." "Experience must be our only guide; reason may mislead us." "Instagram is Twitter for people who can't read."
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