Originally posted by plawrence:
Originally posted by DeathByClotheshanger:
[b] Sollozzo didn't even need to guarantee Michael's safety because it would have been an insult.
The Bocchicchio hostage held by the Corleone Family was to guarantee Michael's safety, as pointed out by Don Cannoli in his original post.
The question is, why didn't the Sollozzo people also hold a hostage to guarantee his safety. [/b]Plaw,
My take on it is that Sollozzo knew that he had no bargaining power left after trying to kill Vito at the hospital. Sollozzo knows that since the attempt at the hospital failed, along with the original hit on Vito, then he is no position to be making demands for his safety. I know that I'm mixing the novel with the movie with my explanation, but remember back to when Sonny says: "Imagine the nerve on this son of a bitch. He craps out last night and wants a meeting today."
I also agree with the other point that Sollozzo never really felt unsafe with McCluskie as his bodyguard, making it a moot point for the need to have a hostage to guarantee Sollozzo's safety.
