MovieChat Forums > The Godfather Part II (1974) Discussion > Did Fredo quite literally look like too ...

Did Fredo quite literally look like too much of a clown?

posted 3 years ago by FootOfDavros (6691)
12 replies | jump to latest

Quite literally Fredo looks like a clown. He's got that daft baldy slaphead, comedic moustache and terrible suits. Honestly, they could had him walking around in giant clown shoes without making him look any more incongruous.

Was it a deliberate styling choice to make him look so stupid? And if so, was it a bad one?

I think his final scene with Michael would have been better had he been a more nuanced character, and added some gravitas / believability to his feelings of being overlooked within the family.

[–] Rolltide (964) 3 years ago

Fredo was not only stupid he was weak. His character could have been like Luca, stupid but dangerous. As it was he could get the respect from his woman.

[–] Bolchevik (369) 3 years ago

Agreed, the whole point is Fredo to look weak and I think it was perfectly done.

According to what I read, the actor in real life was very popular among his peers. Nice guy, full confident, I think he was dating Meryl Streep or some hot chick actress. Despite his clown physical ;-)

[–] MichelleDessler (419) 3 years ago

He and Meryl were in a serious relationship and he was sadly diagnosed with cancer and died while they were together. Think he had cancer while filming The Deer Hunter too. Yea he was much loved and well respected amongst his peers. He was a great actor.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

All movies he was in were nominated for an Oscar.

[–] Rolltide (964) 2 years ago

Fredo was in movies? What scenes are those? We are talking about Fredo not John Cazale

[–] kwestmo (4114) 3 years ago

Fredo in the novel was not stupid or weak. He was not good at gangster work, but was great at running casinos.

[–] ak47wong (473) 3 years ago

He was also great at picking up people from the airport and taking care of some Mickey Mouse nightclub somewhere.

[–] TheWhiteHotel (44) 3 years ago

Not to mention banging cocktail waitresses two at a time.

[–] TexasJack (12515) 3 years ago

That takes real talent.

[–] FootOfDavros (6691) a year ago

But was Part 2 one of those movie novel adaptation of the film or was it written in its own right before the first film came out?

I didn't know there was a second book but interesting in terms of Fredo not being characterised in the same way...

[–] MCguy (934) a year ago

The segment about the rise of Vito is from the novel. The 1950's segment is not.

[–] Rolltide (964) 2 years ago

We know he can get it up. Banging cocktail waitresses two at a time. He never fathers any children in the 2 films though.