Post deleted by I'M GERMAN-IRISH

Actually, Connie mentions Fredo to Michael in GIII and refers to his "drowning." Certainly, knowing Michael, she had to have known that he was murdered. In GIII Connie knew that Michael was struggling with his past. She also was cold, cunning and duplicitous unlike her character in the earlier films.

I don't believe Tom had any prior knowledge of Fredo's murder although I don't think he'd be shocked by it. He was pretty calm when Tessio, who was close to the family, was taken to his death before his eyes. Granted, Fredo is family and his death would hit closer to home. Nonetheless, Tom, who, I agree, was more compassionate than Michael, probably wasn't surprised, knowing that Fredo betrayed the family.

Proibably only Michel and Neri knew ahead of time, but COnnie figured it out as did Anthony and Kay.

Connie had no prior knowledge that Fredo was going to be killed. It was she who begged Michael to forgive Fredo. It's possible--even likely--that Connie figured out later that Michael had Fredo killed. Some people here believe that the scene in III where she said he "drowned" actually was a veiled way of Connie telling Michael that she knew he had Fredo killed--and that she forgave Michael.

Michael almost certainly didn't tell Tom (or anyone other than Neri) that he was going to whack Fredo. But Tom probably would have figured that Fredo was a dead man from the moment Michael returned from Havana. He saw what happened to Carlo. In fact, in the novel, he explains to Kay that a traitor can never be forgiven because he will be a danger to the family forever. He argued against Michael killing Roth and the Rosatos because they were "on the run"--not a danger to Michael anymore, to Tom's way of thinking.

This brings up a question I've thought about.

What would have been Vito's reaction to the killing of Fredo? Michael would have waited until Vito died before killing Fredo in all likelihood.

But if Vito were living and aware of the Tahoe attack and Fredo's involvement with Johnny Ola, could he have approved of Michael's actions?

I think Michael's decision to kill Fredo would have horrified Vito despite Fredo's betrayal. Sonny, I think, would have pulled the trigger himself.

I dont think Vito would kill one of his own sons.

This question's come up before. I think the general consensus is that Vito wouldn't have ordered Fredo's death. Vito knew that Carlo was complicit in Sonny's assassination, but apparently he couldn't bring himself to order the death of his daughter's husband and the father of his grandchildren. Michael likely would have waited for Vito to die, just as he waited for his mother to die. Quite a few people here think that Sonny would have beaten the s**t out of Fredo, but not killed him.

There is no way that Vito or Sonny would've ordered Fredo's death. They wouldn't have been able to do it. Witness Sonny's utterance to Carlo, Touch my sister again and I'll kill ya (one of DC's favorite lines, btw). If he had any real intention of murdering Carlo, he would never have uttered that phrase in front of witnesses. Vito and Sonny were more "old school" and I don't think that they could've ordered the death of their son or brother.

Of course, if Sonny and Vito were alive, then Michael may not have been the Don, but that's a whole 'nother nut to crack.

And of course, Fredo knew that he was going to be murdered.

I agree that only Michael and Al knew about wacking Freddy....I also agree the Michael would not have had Fredo killed when Don Vito was around, like he said in GF2, "I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother is still alive." I also don't think Fredo knew he was going to get wacked, he was an idiot, he was not "smaht" like he thought he was.....otherwise he would have been suspicious of going out on a boat, alone, with Al Neri.....if he was aware that Michael would want him dead, he would have not gone out on that boat........or would he? Maybe he knew it was going to happen sooner or later, and he was tired of being paranoid about it, and just got it over with.....hmmmm??

Of course he knew. He knew that his brother Mike had his enemies killed. Fredo became a enemy of Mike. Just because he was his brother doesn't give him a pass.

Actually, and I may be splitting hairs, as I remember from living in Boston for three years, the natives would pronounce it more like "smat", instead of "smaht." Maybe I just hung with the wrong people up there.

In some ways, Michael was the perfect don. Although Vito perfected the art and gave each seperate quality to his sons, Michael was the ruthless one. Which counts in Organized Crime.

Vito wouldn't have ordered Fredo to be killed, he was too attached to his family. Michael did what had to be done without remorse, he could seperate himself from anything and regard it as "just business." His ruthless streak, cunning and coolness made him the best choice out of them all for a Don.

And Al Neri is wicked, he's done all of the best hits for Michael, Barzini, The Vatican Bank Cardinal, Fredo. He's a great UB.

Only Michael and Al knew.

Fredo thought he was forgiven by Michael as organized by Connie. Fredo ran from Michael before and he would have run again if he didn't really think he was forgiven. Tom would never have gone along with it had he known, but I think he had his suspicions when he saw Michael getting paranoid. Tom, after all, was very aware of how important family was to Vito as he was taken in and loved by Vito as a son. Tom was never sure of Michael until after the attempt on Michael's life, perhaps it was the age difference, but definitely Sonny didn't see Tom as a brother as shown by their fight after Vito's shooting. Tom even has to defend himself, "I was as much of a son to him..."

Vincent and Mary talk about Fredo's death when she asks Vincnet if she thinks her father had Fredo killed. Obviously there was at least a rumor of it and that rumor had to come from somewhere, likely Kay as she tells Michael, "Tony knows you killed Fredo." Connie would have suspected and then, later, realized the truth, resolving herself to Michael being strong for the family. Look at the shot, Connie and Michael are seated opposite each other as equals. Michael talks about his attempts to go straight and his regrets about the money and the killings and tells her about making his confession. Right after Connie says:

That line would never have been said if she hadn't known given the context of the preceding conversation. Talia Shire's delivery says as much. She speaks with understanding and compassion, then tells Michael how much she loves him.

Fredo's death was one of those unique things that exist in families: open secrets. It killed Michael in the end. In becoming strong Michael became cold. Unlike Vito, he couldn't separate his family from his business and lost everything except the money in the end.