MovieChat Forums > The Godfather Part II (1974) Discussion > Pentangeli was a true man of honor (Spoi...

Pentangeli was a true man of honor (Spoilers)

posted 8 years ago by Santodemeo
7 replies | jump to latest

You have to feel for the guy, as the deck was stacked against him from the very beginning. He seems like he's always been fully devoted to the Corleones and simply asked Michael for assistance against Roth and the Rosatos, who were trying to muscle in on him. Michael (who, by the way, is quick to advise his brother to NEVER side against the family) essentially refuses Frankie's request and sides with a non-Italian outsider. Then Frankie is set up by Roth, ambushed by the Rosatos and forced into a situation where he either testifies or faces certain death on the streets. Now, I will be the first to admit that, regardless of the circumstances, he still initially decides to break Omerta and testify against Michael. The talk with Tom Hagen on the army base, however, reveals the true nature of his character. Family is most important to him at his core: his blood family and his loyalty to the Corleones. He could've still easily made Michael's life a living hell by talking (albeit his family would've been obliterated), but he chooses to admit to his mistake and takes his own life which, in this case, is the most noble thing he could've done. In a film full of deception and mass confusion regarding who did what, he's the only one who truly did nothing wrong in the beginning and was forced into an inevitably fatal predicament.

[–] NikolajCostas1005 8 years ago

I agree. I think the only reason he broke Omerta was for the reason you mentioned: if he thought Michael really was trying to kill him he had no other choice.

What I'm wondering is why the Rosatos mentioned Michael's name. Obviously in the film it serves a purpose to the plot, but if they had succeeded in killing him that was just intended to add insult to injury?

They don't call me Col. Homer cause I'm some dumbass army guy!

[–] Santodemeo 8 years ago

I think the murder attempt on Pentangeli was botched on purpose in order to turn him against Michael and testify. Now, it's a little hard to follow, seeing as the cop walking into the bar seemed totally random. Perhaps the Rosatos would've just left Pentangeli half-dead in the street somewhere to be found, had the cop not walked in and caused panic.

[–] amcalabrese-1 8 years ago

The botched hit in the movie was based on a botched hit on one of the Gallo Brothers (ironic as the Rosatos are based on the Gallos).

[–] jgroub 8 years ago

That's too fine a point to be able to plan out. Yeah, Roth was a genius, but this wasn't his plan.

I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.

[–] Stevicus-2 8 years ago

I was sympathetic to Pentangeli as well, although Michael was trying to move more strategically against Roth, looking at the big picture, while Pentangeli was seeing more at a street level and couldn't understand Michael's maneuverings.

Michael did tell Frankie to settle the troubles with the Rosatos, although I don't think he told them when, where, or how to do it. Telling Willi Cicci to wait outside and going alone like that may not have been wise. The C-Note may have also put him off, and perhaps he should have seen that as a bad sign and quickly left. He could have picked the time and place for the meeting, rather than go in alone to a bar controlled by the Rosatos.

Even though Frankie believed that Michael had turned on him, that was actually untrue, but Frank lost all faith and confidence in Michael. When Michael thought Pentangeli had been murdered by the Rosatos, he clearly still wanted to avenge him, as indicated by his provocative question to Roth "who gave the go ahead?" Michael was still loyal to Frankie, but when he realized that Frankie held the mistaken belief that Michael had betrayed him, then Michael would have seen that, in and of itself, as a betrayal. Why would he take Rosato's word that Michael ordered the hit? That was another misjudgment which led him down that unfortunate path.

[–] Jeff0015 8 years ago

Good observation. I think this was all a consequence of Michael moving out west. Of course this will put pressure on Frankie Five Angels.

[–] vicky_lc2001 (1907) 6 years ago

Like you, I like Pentangelli and agree the deck was stacked against him. Either way, he was stuck in between Michael and Roth.

However, I disagree that Michael sided with an outsider (Roth) over Pentangelli. Michael was simply biding his time, he never sided with Roth. In fact he talked to Pentangelli and explained the situation to him. This isn't the first time Michael had done this. He also did this in TGF1 asking for patience from both Clemenza and Tessio, Michael like Vito is a very patient man and lures his enemies into complacency and mistakes.