How was Tessio smarter than Clemenza? Up until the funeral he was (for me) a character in the background. During the funeral when Michael says Tessio was always smarter, I was like- what did I miss ?- I've watched the movie a gazillion times, focusing, listening, but I still can't get the part where he was always smarter- did he suddenly change with the death of Don VIto? Did he decide to play Barzini before Barzini played him?