When meeting with Don Ciccio to plead for the life of her son, Vito Corleone's mother told him that Vito would be no threat because he was dumb-witted. Did she really believe that he was dumb or was she simply trying to convince Don Ciccio to let Vito live?

It did portray him as a very thin, quiet boy so she must ahve been honest.

Maybe her mother really did believe it - Vito always seemed like the deep thinker to me - analysing situations before any need for speech or action. On the outside that may be percieved as being stupid. But maybe it was her way of trying anything to save her son. If Stephen Hawkins was my son and I was in the same predicament I'd plead he was dumb witted too.

I think she was just trying to convince Don Ciccio to let him live. Even if your son is Fredo, you never think he's "slow", you just think he's not as bright as the other children, or that squirrel.....or that rock.

I'm unsure that it was actually strategy used by Vito's mom to save her son. In the book, he "awoke" his intelligence, by apply what his intellect to the Fanucci situation. It was even stated that before then he never used his mind in this way. I do think he was a bit slow, quiet and seemingly dumb-witted. He was slow to react in the movie and very introverted, the later point, especially in turn of the century Sicily could be construed as dumb-witted.

Vito Andolini was obviously quieter and more cautious than his brother Paulo, who even as a kid of 12 (??) attempted to get revenge for his father's murder and himself was killed as a result.

Paulo, therefore, is a parallel to his nephew Sonny - hotheaded and impatient. Vito was more willing to bide his time and wait for his opportuntity for revenge (which he finally gets about 25 years later.)

But I think more than anything else Mama Andolini was just telling Ciccio that Vito was dumb in the hopes of letting him escape.

I think we all agree that Vito was far from being dim witted. I would classify him as sort of being a late bloomer. I would take his "street smarts" any time

Yes, I think the mom just said that about Vito because what's she going to say? She would say and do anything after her husband and son were killed. I'm sure with the dad and brother's death he was really introverted. Poor young Vito - the mom was pretty daring too - I mean bringing a knife and daring to hold it against Don Ciccio's neck? Poor Mama.