Foremost, it is a pleasure to absorb all of your insightful analysis of this "sweet and helpless" brother...
I humbly bow to your amazing opinions.
Second, I have not read the books. I intend to soon.
1. So...the first we see of Fredo is when he is a baby with pneumonia. I think many here agree that this may be the root cause of his ineptitude, since the local midwife or witch is using a water glass and a spell to remove the infection from his lungs. Vito is heartbroken, maybe because he cannot afford a doctor? Notice it is shortly after this that he kills Fanucci.
2. Next we see him at the table in the flashback scene at the end of GFII. He is supportive of Mike's decision to join the Marines, and gets slapped by Sonny for this, "Go on, encourage him," and looks like a whipped puppy. Obviously being Sonny's little brother did not help make him a tough guy, but more of a submissive, victim in the making. No doubt he was beaten by Sonny more than once, IMHO.
3. Then he is introduced to Kay by Michael at Connie's wedding. He is drunk, and falls all over Kay. He certainly has a weakness for the fairer sex, as is shown often in future scenes.
4. Now we see him in the family meeting with Sollozo. I find this very interesting that he is included here, as it shows me Don Vito had intentions of including him in important decisions, or to perhaps help teach him somewhat. It is noticeable that Michael is NOT at this meeting. Tho he says nothing, as Sonny does (and is chastised by Vito), Fredo is in some respects an important participant.
5. Now Fredo is driving the Don since Paulie called in sick. We all know what happens next, perhaps Fredo's most defining moment, when buttons try to kill his father and he fumbles like a buffoon. He crumbles and weeps for his Papa, as a son, rather than get fierce, as an underboss. IMHO this is one scene where I feel Fredo is truly "sweet and helpless."
6. After the Don is taken home from the hospital and Sonny and Tom inform him of all the updates, Sonny says he is sending Fredo to Las Vegas - "I'm gonna learn the casino business," Now, I feel Sonny sent him away for several reasons: one, to get rid of him since he was obviously a hazard when handling a gun; two, to protect him; and three, to possibly allow him to feel "there was something in it for him," in a safe and rather benign affair like gambling, rather than drugs and much more dangerous activities, as it seemed Sonny and Tom were quite interested in pursuing upon thier inheritance of the Donship and respective Consilierge. It also seems clear to me that this is perhaps the last time Fredo saw Sonny alive.
7. Now, and perhaps one of the most gripping non-speaking scenes, after the Don is home and has learned that Michael killed for him and has been sent away, that all operations are stunted, he has a look of disgust on his face as Fredo sits silently alone with him.
8. Now Fredo welcomes Michael to Las Vegas with a party, Johnny Fontaine, and Moe Greene. We find out Fredo has been slapped around by Moe since he was "banging cocktail waitresses two at a time," and that Moe greene is ready to make a deal with Barzini over the hotel. After the meeting, Fredo yells at his kid brother in un-Fredo-like aggression, "You don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Greene like that!" And of course we all know what Michael then tells him. Now, obviously, Fredo has lost touch with the Family and has already been under the influence of enemies of the Corleones.
Now, my questions and observations of Fredo's thinking at this point. Sonny is dead, and Michael has recently returned from Sicily. I honestly don't think Fredo knew that the Don had turned over his power to Michael, if he did, would he speak to Michael like that? Perhaps he thought that him and Michael would "share" the Donship, with Michael in New York and him in Las Vegas? It just seems to me that at this point Fredo may have thought that "there was something in it for him," and was still unaware of Michael's brutality. After all, we see respect for elder brothers where Mike says, "Yes, sir," to Sonny, and Sonny also commands Connie. Is it possible that Fredo just assumed at this point that HE would be the Don, that is until Michael tells him, "Don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever." Maybe Fredo thought he was doing the right thing by siding with Greene, since he was so out of the loop he didn't even know Barzini was an enemy and Moe had him so whipped he was actually Moe's capo now? Plus the fact that he was not only not very bright to begin with, but also quite the party animal and enjoyed wine, women and song, which as we all know can seriously cloud the mind.
Of course, after Don Vito's death and Michael's "settling of all the Family business," it was no doubt obvious to Fredo who was in charge, and that he had been "stepped over..."
A Brief History of Fredo Part II to follow after your much anticipated responses......AVC
