How did Michael work out Hyman Roth tried to kill him? The Godfather Explained

[@CineRanter]

*The Godfather | The HORRIFYING Origin Story of Luca Brasi | Too disturbing for the movie:* kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoPOhZJofbBll9U

[@matheusborgesv]

Bro, do you know the name of the music that plays when Freedo arrives in Cuba?

[@thomasa8814]

"This is the business we've chosen! I didn't ask, who gave the order, because it had nothing to do with business!" Showed too much. He really showed his fury and that it wasnt business, it was personal. And he hated Michael.

[@mg19cal]

"This is the business we've chosen (tsk) I didn't ask (tsk) who gave the order (tsk) because it had nothing to do with business (tsk)"

[@kurtwpg]

Trying to muscle into the Tropigala was arrogant and may have even set this all in motion. Imagine Michael killing Moe Greene for refusing to be pushed out of a casino, then trying to push his mentor out of a casino. When Ola said "our friend in Miami will go along", that doesn't mean shit. It just means Roth isn't some knucklehead like Moe who blurts his intentions out loud.

[@frankdees507]

@@kurtwpg Exactly. They felt what the Corleones were doing wasn’t business like to say the least. It had been more of a takeover approach. It was kinda like the same all or nothing decision taken after becoming head of the family. Anyone that headed a top family except him was someone to be assassinated. Ppl like them and Moe Greene were considered enemies simply for holding positions he desired only for himself. His biggest hypocrisy to me was attempting to “go clean” by murdering those occupying the positions he needed for legitimacy. Foh lol

[@gbonkers666]

And there isn't a plaque or a statute in that town....

[@HeyJohnnyBaybay]

I always loved the part when young Vito holds baby Michael right after he kills Don Fanucci and says to him in Italian "your father loves you very much , Michael. Very much." And the flashback at the end with everyone before part 1, waiting for Vito on his birthday and it just ends with michael sitting there alone

[@BlushGush]

I just saw Coppola’s commentary where he says he didn’t think much of that line but for some reason people really like that line. So it’s interesting to see you call it out here

[@michaelle1445]

​@@BlushGushI feel like it shows how intimate Vito is to his family in comparison to Michael's stoic and aloof behavior to those around him. It also shows that Michael is Vito's favorite because Vito pays attention immediately to Michael upon completion of probably the biggest hit he has attempted to date.

[@66Bunn]

"You're father did business with Hymen Roth...you're father respected Hymen Roth....but your father never TRUSTED Hymen Roth!"....."or is Sicilian messenger boy, Johnny Ola" Probably my all time favorite line from the entire trilogy.

[@gordonirvine726]

Have always loved that line too! It's said with such passion and conviction.

[@brianmurphy250]

You give these movies so much more depth…I learn new stuff every video and appreciate the nuisances

[@MISmotionimagesound]

You forgot about the scene where they are all in Cuba at the night club where initially Fredo pretended like he had never met Roth, but then later he talks about how "Old man Roth" would never come to the club they were at. Its actually in that scene where all of Michaels suspicions are instantly confirmed.

[@danwallach8826]

He mentioned it. Called it "the show."

[@ArrowheadPride4Ever]

14:38 he begins to mention this exact scene

[@mjremy2605]

Looks like he did mention it, but I am glad you wrote this because I did not know. Thanks!

[@SnowDaulphin]

This is when Michael knew Fredo was the inside man Roth was working with. Michael knew it was Roth who ordered his assasination very early on, it is only a question of when he was certain.

[@sidydakid89]

You forgot to listen

[@igg3937]

Imagine anyone analysing modern movies to this degree. This was truly a golden age for film-making and story telling.

[@Joe-rk9uy]

5 minutes to cover all character arcs oh wait they don't even worry about that these days ahahaha

[@justice_for_peanut]

I think Michael sized them both up and eventually decided it was probably Roth. 2 key things for me were: 1) When Michael went to Roth's home and told him about his plans to kill Pentangeli, it seems like Michael was troubled by the way Roth was behaving. I mean, if Roth were innocent, you'd think he'd at least ask Michael if he was sure Frank was behind the hit. But all Roth said was "he's small potatoes." 2) When Michael went to Pentangeli's house and asked him to settle things with the Rosato brothers, Pentangeli refused and went on a rant. If Pentangeli were guilty, he would have probably agreed immediately to Michael's request just to get on his good side.

[@mjremy2605]

Exactly right! As you see from many police interrogations, the innocent people yell and scream when accused, but the guilty are calm. Pentangeli had passion and was angry. This genuine emotion is the key to sincerity. You cannot fake emotions easily.

[@jdlk-ny5yo]

He literally said that in the video dude

[@michaelle1445]

​@@mjremy2605Great catch from both of you! Those who remain too calm are probably overacting in order to cast a veil over their wrongdoings, I think.

[@mjremy2605]

Hyman Roth is played by none other than Lee Strasberg (Israel Strasberg) the legendary coach of method acting for so many stars including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Julie Harris, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, Geraldine Page and Eli Wallach, and directors Andreas Voutsinas, Frank Perry, and Elia Kazan. He developed the school of method acting in the US. A great man. Imagine Al Pacino studying under him, then bumping him off in the movie!

[@bentencho]

Roth didn't need to attempt a second assassination. Michael was already under indictment from the Federal government and has already perjured himself. If it wasn't for Frank's brother, Michael would be put in prison for a long time.

[@ronaldomontero3624]

I don't know about that because even without the brother I think he would have got out of that because all you have to do is just look at pentangeli and then the testimony would have changed

[@themeerofkats8908]

Michael was under subpoena but never indicted.

[@33moneyball]

They had plenty of time and a variety of moves before that.

[@jimc.goodfellas]

Great great video idea...man there's nothing better than the Godfather II. Lee Strasberg's performance is legendary

[@portugal5698]

To those asking why Frank wasn’t able to be taken back in even after saving Michael’s a** in the end and partially redeeming himself to those he seemingly betrayed is pretty straight forward. The main reason being Pentangelli would now be put away for a long time for going back on the statements he made in order to receive leniency. That is enough for anything to happen like opening his mouth whether by accident or intentional. He had no way out of this and the family knew it as well as he did. It all came down to either going out with dignity while he was still in good light in Michael’s eyes or spending the rest of his days behind bars or fearing an assassination attempt to keep him quiet or out of revenge by members of other families while stuck in prison with nowhere to hide. He was a sitting duck at that point which is why he and Tom decided that suicide was his best bet because at least he would go out like a respectable figure in the family which pretty much guaranteed his wife, kids and other relatives would be taken care of financially by Michael and his own brother who would approve of his loyalty in a tough circumstance.

[@chickencharlie1992]

I doubt they actually would have kept his family that safe, the Mafia being what it is

[@Finey02]

@@chickencharlie1992 in these cases, Mafia used to respect the women/children of the main target. For an example families do not touch each other on sundays based on the tradition of beliefs. They had codes.

[@Whoknowsx1234]

@@chickencharlie1992”there’s honor amongst thieves”

[@chickencharlie1992]

@@Whoknowsx1234 Yeah, not often. Watch Goodfellas. De Niro kills everyone he can from the airport heist because fuck them, he wants their money.

[@donarthiazi2443]

@@chickencharlie1992 Of course Frank's family would be safe. Not only safe, but taken care of financially. That was always _part of the bargain._ And in any case his family was no threat to anyone. No question Michael would have provided for Frank's family

[@jettsteari3062]

I never doubted for a moment that he knew it was Roth from the start. He was baiting Roth by telling him initially it was Pantangeli that tried to kill him.

[@danwallach8826]

He didn't know that Fredo was "the traitor." Not until Fredo couldn't keep his mouth shut at the Cuban sex show.

[@lars9925]

I never even suspected Frank Pentangeli and wasn't under the impression that Michael suspected him. I was aware that Michael suspected Hyman Roth, although I was quite puzzled that Michael knew this so early on.

[@filb]

What a great movie, thank god it was released in the 70's. I often wondered if this movie would ever be released nowadays in the age of short attention span era. With that said, great video.

[@andrewbundy252]

Yeah Michael would have had to be trans or at least gay theses days

[@TupDigital]

@@andrewbundy252 yep, and characters would say "literally" all the time for no reason. Also, Michael would have celebrated Kay's noble decision to terminate his son

[@andrewbundy252]

Unfortunately I agree about the abortion side Michael would have been shamed and made to apologize for wanting a boy

[@stickdorsey6051]

@@andrewbundy252 i dont about micheal but fredo woulda been prime candidate to be the finoccio...also fugghetabout Carlo smacking Connie around as minor plot point. Movie would be totally different

[@filb]

@@andrewbundy252 Remember the Sopranos 20 years ago when they found Vito was gay...I don't know if HBO would've allowed the characters to say what they said about Vito nowadays. I still laugh at Christopher saying out loud how they know what Vito meant when he said he was greasing the union 😂 if you rewatch that scene, one of the actors laughed out loud (not scripted).

[@andrewbundy252]

It still amazes me that Johnny Ola is Jr from the sopranos

[@octavioherschberg5280]

what?

[@jordanh806]

@@octavioherschberg5280 the dude who plays Johnny ola is the same guy who plays Jr from the sopranos

[@judywright4241]

It’s kinda cool to be back with Pacino since they had acted in ‘And Justice For All’--another great film. Strasberg plays Al’s grandfather in it too.🏆

[@davidlean1060]

He also plays one of the Watergate burglars in All The President's Men.

[@ray.shoesmith]

Al Neri was in the Sopranos too. He was Frank Crisci, one of Lou DiMaggios crew in the Atwell Avenue Boys. Tony sends Silvio and Christopher to hire them to clip Johnny Sack

[@Britton_Thompson]

*The better question is....* *"Why did the Risotto brothers take the order to kill Frank Pentangeli from Hymen Roth when he isn't even in the Corleone Family to begin with?"*

[@kevinhealey6540]

Where Michael found out about the plot against him was when he went to the Havana Super Man show and it slipped out that Fredo and Johnny Ola were very well acquainted which was the connection for Michael to figure out who set up the machine gun attack in his bed room. Fredo said at the show, "Johnny Ola told me about this place. He brought me to this place. Old Johnny knows these places like the back of his hand." After Fredo said that Michael is in shock.

[@getdealtwithquick]

The discovery of this very plot is the red thread in this movie. I'm convinced though that Michael hadn't immediately worked out who the assassin was. He figured it was either Frank or Roth pretty quickly, but needed more clarity, especially because the timing of the attempt on the surface seemed so contrary to Roths (visible) interest at the time. To assume with certainty at that point that it couldn't have been Pentangeli because of how the attempt happened is a bit far fetched. Put yourself in Michael's shoes: you have very limited information, several distractions and high tension side shows (Senator, Connie, the Casino deal) and it doesnt seem to make sense that Roth would kille him before getting his money. Pentangeli on the other hand openly states he wants him off his back, which Fredo may be an ally in, as well (they were very friendly in the beginning). And why wouldn't he try to obscure his tracks by using non-Mob tactics for killing Michael? He was no Tessio but wouldn't have acted alone anyway. Further, Pentangeli being ready to break Omerta until Michael has his brother shipped into the court room proves the point that even the most loyal followers can and will turn on you. So, Michael plays it safe for a while because he has to. And even though he certainly knows Roth was behind it by time they get to Cuba, he probably also didnt realize the full extent of Roths plan to take over until he makes the Johnny Ola Fredo connection. My take on this.

[@adamwarlock1]

Yeah, I think if Michael had to guess he would have said Roth from the start, but he very carefully waits until he has better information before doing anything tangible, because he's not going to bet everything on a 60/40 hunch when he can get much better odds by essentially doing the equivalent of Tyrion on season/book 2 of Game Of Thrones, telling all suspects what they want to hear and seeing how they act. If Fredo's blabbing had implicated Frank rather than Roth I'm sure it would have been a surprise for Michael, but a surprise that Michael was ready for.

[@adamwarlock1]

@jpssteveshanahan Oh that's cool. Plus that way it's more likely that Roth will know that the money really is in Cuba, which makes it harder for Roth to figure out whether Michael is on to him or not and gives him an incentive to wait to get paid before killing him.

[@mariaboletsis3188]

"Roth...he played this one beautifully..."

[@brianwarner308]

Awesome video man! I have a feeling I’m gonna be watching a lot of your channel!

[@DeejayNally]

he knew as soon as he talked with pentangali at his home in new York and also when he was in Miami when he met with Roth,confirmed it see the way he eyes up Roth when he says ''he small pototoes'. A heavy suspect look.

[@jamesblake3467]

Great insight as always.

[@DynastyZwarrior90]

I always thought that the mysterious figure who killed Moe Greene was Pentangeli, even though he didn't exist yet as a character. It makes sense as he as a top tier Corleone soldier and Roth seemed to hold a resentment towards him. It was also stated that he was long wanted for a murder.

[@suprcrzy]

Meh. He's small potatoes.

[@enigma-wv7oc]

Pentangeli was a capo during the period Moe Greene was killed. Capo's order soldiers to do a hit.

[@DynastyZwarrior90]

@@enigma-wv7oc Clemenza was also a capo yet he killed Don Stracci by himself.

[@enigma-wv7oc]

@@DynastyZwarrior90 Your right, he also killed Carlo by the way, but normaly the soldiers kill.

[@georgejackson4426]

In the novel it's heavily implied that Al Neri killed Moe Green.

[@sergiolobato1798]

If Hyman was Irish would that make him a Roth IRA?

[@NV..V]

Lol....Genius

[@jimbozium]

I suggest anyone watching this look up Lee Strasburg. Cineranter alludes to Pacino though note the guy trained so many legends. A fascinating life.

[@rogerjrusa]

I’m so very thankful for your expert analysis! It’s good that my favorite films have this channel to walk me thru the genius storylines.

[@bentonrp]

I clicked on this because it is a murky subject so central to the film. You do a great job with the details of it... To me, it seems like Michael might have pinned Roth as suspect #1 from the night of the shooting on him and his family, but had to know how deep the hit ran before going to war with someone as powerful as Roth. If he had immediately dispensed with Roth - took over his empire - he wouldn't know who in the (now formerly Roth's) mafia organization, or within his own family, secretly wanted him dead... and those two forces by that time would no doubt be close enough to covertly sabotage against Michael yet again. Michael's goal in the film was to understand the reasoning behind the clandestine execution group so he could get one-up over them / remain one step ahead of them, as he grows in power / takes over Roth's organization after of course killing Roth for ordering the hit job on him and his family. He lays a trap for Roth that Roth over-confidently falls for (with his treatment of Pentangeli), which eventually leaves Michael the opportunity to question Roth about his integrity directly, even without Roth suspecting that Michael wants him dead. It works, and Roth trusts Michael's purported intentions enough to try to convince him Pentangeli's supposed assassination happens all the time, and that even Michael has ordered hits on connected people flippantly. Roth only reveals too much by accident because of his genuine principles; Whereas the Corleones are only taught to be loyal to family, Hyman Roth is only loyalty to friends. Roth is less disciplined because becoming successful through focus on friends is a much more extravagant, easier life - So good did Roth once have it that, in fact, he now dreams of immortality. This lack of discipline is how Michael set Roth up to act impulsively simply by forcing Pentangeli to remain disciplined and confuse the impulsive forces into error. Just as how he must discover the entire group of botched executioners before he takes out Roth, Michael had to work with Roth in the past because he had to get along with those most powerful, but all the while he and Roth knew they were nothing like each other, and Michael knew that Roth put up the same cordiality he chose to portray for the good of both their successes. This is something that a more disciplined Michael than Roth did well... ...even as Roth sends a messenger who doesn't know Michael's father was gunned down shopping for oranges, and thinks it would be cool to flaunt an orange from Roth's Homestate as a gift. Though callous, narcissistic, vengeful and oblivious, these are the qualities that possess someone whose counter-vailing principles are of lifelong loyal towards friends, rather than family. Something that, despite all of his success, Hyman Roth cannot help but subconsciously reveal to Michael. The only problem is, when Michael learns this revenge-for-a-friend motive behind this hit on his life, Fredo clumsily reveals that he is one of the players. More hurtful is that Michael had confided in Fredo his confident feelings behind the betrayal being from Roth, and Fredo said nothing. The motive has always been with Roth, so this assassin group's involvement ran from the top, and now with the know-how being revealed to have been through obtaining access to his direct family, Fredo has just closed the loop on the involved members of this group, leaving Michael free to act in retaliation against this set-up on the life of himself, his wife and kids. The paradox is, that he would have to betray his family to appear strong enough to retaliate, and thus protect his family from his mafia enemies. Michael is trapped either way, and so chooses to become the threat rather than threatened, and thus loses his soul. Loyalty to friends, as well as loyalty to family both lead to self-destruction and destruction of all relationships in this film, due to the damage that a criminal career can place on someone's life, and the limited options one has as to either save their own life or their very soul.

[@mariaboletsis3188]

Yet another great analysis. Thanks!

[@Rompler_Rocco]

I always start these videos thinking I know the answer, but then Cineranter.

[@BubblegumCrash332]

It's still the biggest movie mystery , who opened the blinds in Michael's room (without Kay knowing) and who killed the two assassins. Absolutely nothing in the film gives you a clue. Head cannon is the only answer

[@chrisburns143]

Frank was old school, and owed a lot to mikes dad. Frank was able to talk openly with mike because he goes back years with the family.

[@ahriskof1]

He had doubted pentangili but his reaction when he told him about the assassination attempt made it clear for michael it was roth

[@harukrentz435]

Michael knew it was Hoth all along. He wasnt stupid to not understand the resentment from Roth towards him as not only Michael was the kiler of his protege, he also had been holding money for the casino investment in Cuba which delayed the project and costing him the money. What Michael didnt know was the traitor within his family. First he thought it was the head security of his compound, Rocco Lampone only to found out that Fredo was the true traitor. Still Michael sent everyone to their death, not only his trecharous brother but also his top capo, Rocco Lampone who had been with him from the start.

[@garyfrombrooklyn]

I think both we and law enforcement are glad you aren’t running a borgata, you’re insight is uncanny. These two movies (and the third) are must haves in anyone’s movie library.

[@fulaan1]

I can do without the third

[@garyfrombrooklyn]

@jpssteveshanahan slang for criminal gang

[@harrismatthew5553]

The moment Michael heard his brother slip up and brag about hanging with Roth during Michael’s visit was the moment he knew it was Roth

[@merkury06]

Great analysis! I had not considered some of your interpretations of the Roth /Michael scene in Cuba.

[@Gou709]

CineRanter never misses

[@blorac9869]

Enjoyed, TYVM!

[@imrankamara5005]

Great video again 👏 Could you do more analysis for the the 1997 film cop land

[@aliensoup2420]

Put "Cop Dog" on that list as well.

[@jpiccone1]

The talk about Moe Green and Pantangeli was about NY and Roth's hit on Pentangeli - we already knew there were problems between Roth & Pantangeli. It was when Fredo let it slip that Michael understood everything.

[@chivs105]

When frank still refused to settle the business with the risotto brothers he knew, when he visited franks house he was sussing him out Raised voice in this scene tells you he’s still not sure, but sees franks reaction he then known it’s Roth

[@paulglover6525]

Excellent analysis!

[@Gunleaver]

Another reason to exonerate Frankie Five Angels IS his open anger at Michael. There is a line from Goodfellas something about how when you get whacked is never when you think, and the guys who are going to kill you come to you as friends when you need a hand. Setting aside the tactical opportunism when people try to hit Vito & Sonny in the movies, that's generally the case. That's how Barzini and Tessio were going to hit Michael. Look at how Sonny and Clemenza behaved toward Paulie once they figured out he was the traitor. They were friendly and solicitous, joking around in the car with him. If Frank was going to kill Michael, if he came to Nevada with the intention of getting Michael's help or taking him out, he would not have been showing how upset he was, he would have come at Michael like a friend, with expensive gifts for his son, and complimenting the band and the setting. He'd have left the meeting showing nothing more than mild disappointment, but still friendly toward Michael, gushing about what a good time they'll have next time Michael comes to New York.

[@eddieschwab864]

Although Al Neri was Michael's Luca at the end of the first movie, it seems like El Neri transitioned to being a capo and Buscetta being his Luca Brasi... which would make sense with Rocco Lampone having the other regime

[@amberlopez7477]

CineRanter sounds like he's an associate with the gangsters. I left you a comment you couldn't refuse.

[@davethomas543]

Really great video.

[@roolio227]

Well , Hyman Roth had uncle junior as his consigliere , nuff said !

[@kurtwpg]

He never had the makings of a wartime consigliere.

[@roolio227]

@@kurtwpg should have hired Mikey Palmice ( well that one was a self destruct wartime consigliere

[@judyevancic4926]

It takes a scoundrel to know A Scoundrel! He learned a lot in a passive way while growing up. So then when they shot his father it motivated him to turn away from he’s previous life. He realized that Sonny was too hot headed to think thing out. But he lost his family because the job took over his life and that life killed his daughter. It’s a difficult life you have no true friends. Not a good life.

[@albertangeloro5832]

the answer is an odd one and both capricious and accidental although fortuitious to Michael. . Enzo The Baker baked the cake for Hyman Roth's birthday party in Cuba. desperate to warn Michael he included an obscure Sicilian warning in the icing on the cake that only Michael would understand. if Roth hadn't inexplicably asked the waiter to show everyone the cake, Michael would have never known and would never leave Cuba alive. why Roth asked the waiter to show everyone the cake remains a mystery.

[@FormerGovernmentHuman]

He’s a big nose, he wanted everyone to see how much he had spent on the cake because he is incredibly vain.

[@albertangeloro5832]

@@FormerGovernmentHuman good point thanks, and his vanity inadvertently saved Michael's Sicilian culo.

[@frankleben5451]

There could be a simple explanation for Roth attempting a hit on Michael. You don’t get to be that age in that game without being able to read people. I think Roth realized he was now facing a player in the game that was his equal or better. A younger, better version of himself.

[@rorybrown9750]

One of greatest films ever made, although there are some issues that remain unanswered. For example, who opened the curtains in Michael's bedroom just prior to the assassination attempt, and who killed the two would be assassins in the grounds. It could have been Fredo although given his character that seems unlikely although his wife was screaming " it happened right outside my window" so he would have been in the area. Was Johnny Ola and his men still on the premises after the party? Furthermore and probably the most puzzling is why did Michael continue with the Cuba deal if he knew Roth had tried to kill him, surely Roth could have had him killed at any time after that. Surely Michael would have seen Roth as too much a risk to allow him to live.

[@kurtwpg]

One theory was Rocco. I don't remember why and it doesn't really seem to fit for me.

[@cha5]

@@kurtwpg I remember two theories on Rocco are that he was sent on what was a suicide mission to kill Roth because A. Rocco had betrayed Michael was working for Roth and had left the curtains open and Michael discovered that Rocco was the traitor and and had given him the option to kill Roth and guaranteeing the safety of his wife and children. (Although you would think in that scenario that Roth would have spotted him at the airport walking up to him and maybe tried to alert his handlers at that moment.) B. Rocco was no traitor and was never working for Roth but regardless of that Michael blamed him for the lack of security at the compound that night and failing to capture Roth’s hitmen alive and this suicide mission was the only way Michal would let him atone and guarantee the safety of his wife and children after his death.

[@michaellalli7693]

Roth played a real threat to Michael, I never considered Pantangelli a suspect.

[@charleslennon1]

I just realized [saw] the senator behind Roth in Cuba, Fox Mulder's dad!

[@mikehunt4986]

9:24 Clemenza questioned Michael's orders and was emotional and loud? Since when?

[@SpicyTexan64]

A Nevada Senator small potatoes? Hardly.

[@moustafamagdy3477]

I see a fallacy in the argument for ruling out Pentangeli. His benefit from killing Micheal would be having someone in his stead Fredo for example to take his place and then help with the Rosatto brothers. it would still help his cause and not shooting himself to the foot.

[@Larry-perkins]

Roth living a humble life in a small house must have him based on Carlo Gambino, who lived like that. Also going back to Caeser Augustus who also lived in a humble house as first citizen of the Roman Empire

[@aisle_of_view]

Johnny Ola is Uncle Junior

[@frisco21]

When Roth referred to Pentangeli as "small potatoes," he inadvertently, and foolishly, gave away his true feelings. Had he played it smart, he would have promoted the narrative that Pentangeli was powerful and dangerous to deflect suspicion away from himself. This, and his tirade about Moe Green, are the only two times Roth let his guard down, but it was enough to expose himself as the true threat to Michael Corleone.

[@YChromosome99]

Roth about Clemenza: "He's small potatoes." Funny yet makes sense as to why Roth would say that about the man who introduced him to Vito which leads to Roth's rise. Roth simply has little respect for Clemenza OR he is happy to take suspicion off himself of the failed hit.

[@jasongallagher5464]

Yeah but frank was just like old school angry and drunk he wasn’t threatening he really liked Mike. Roth just orchestrated it on the DL. And he only sold him out after he thought he tried to have him killed

[@diontaedaughtry974]

The main suspects are the ones who had the most to gain from getting Michael out the way. Fredo gets to be the boss and Roth's gets revenge for his friend. And if Fredo became the boss he'll be answering to Roth because it was Roth who got him the position. Michael was so good at manipulating people he manipulated Roth many times in the movie like the Miami meeting Michael was studying him and telling him what he wanted to hear. And I don't Roth knew he was being studied or giving Michael little hints that he was buying pentangeli tried to kill him story and it was making him feel good Michael was saying that. Michael could've been an therapist, detective, or FBI directors.

[@williamj.dovejr.8613]

What do men of power want?...more power.

[@TheHi-NoteFunClub-BeatsByMike]

I know the book is fundamentally different from the movies, but speaking toward Michael's need to know "why" before taking certain actions... specifically any time betrayal and a required punishment of death is necessary: In the scene where Mike has a conversation with Carlo right before taking him out - that conversation strictly being a necessity for Mike to "confirm" or otherwise establish why Carlo set Sonny up - EVERY other person in the room was flabbergasted and saw Mike's need as a weakness in their world. This perception being: in our clandestine lives, given the sources of info we have and what motivations might lead to such a betrayal otherwise being obvious - ANY time spent beyond establishing an alibi and ensuring the plan to enact punishment does not fail is, quite frankly, not just unnecessary, but just plain stupid. I can't remember the exact wording, but it boiled down to: (again, paraphrasing) 'If you already know a thing with certainty, why on earth would you need, and how could you possibly, know that thing MORE? You already KNOW - anything more is hesitation and doubt.' I know strategy, tactics, and timing factor into and are essential to success in the world The Godfather universe portrays - but on the opposite side, showing doubt, hesitation, the need to confirm what is already otherwise confirmed... that's weakness... and ultimately (except in Michael's case, apparently - hell, he went on to achieve a global status on par with THE VATICAN'S influance) weakness leads to a downfall much more quickly and assuredly than confirming what is already known or trying to answer a useless, ethereal question like why... because that question is already defined by and answered by the much more useful and TANGIBLE questions of who, what, when, where, and how.

[@scottaznavourian3720]

Ive always found it weird that he says he wants to keep tom out of things to protrct him but jere he lets him sit in on a meeting to bribe a zenator and anorher where they discuss whackijg the rosato brorhers. If anything, ironcially, the ola meeting is the closest thing to anything legitimate that day, but micheal excludes him

[@blackwidowspider9852]

Ross did what he did and betrayed Michael because he was really angry at the killing of Moe green

[@Aven-Sharma1991]

It’d be a huge risk to kill a boss as a capo, I mean….you never know who’s gonna go running to the boss to let them know that their capo talked

[@sargonixofur1234]

Roth’s mistake was having an errand boy who wasn’t a varsity athlete.

[@whitecloak11]

Connie was bad ass in 3

[@Ar1AnX1x]

the actor of Roth was amazing

[@whitecloak11]

Your father respected roth ,but your father NEVER trusted roth. Great line .

[@intelligencelimited2708]

I thought Michael made some intuitive leap about Roth, driven by his gut, or something.

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

Of course, just before Michael confronts Fredo, he tells Fredo that Roth is planning his killing during a ride in a military car.

[@Direct.injection212]

When they were passing around the gold telephone at the Havana meeting, Michael could tell Roth was a liar. It was from there and forward that he grew suspicious of him. Watch the scene and you'll see that Roth does not flinch at lifting that really heavy phone even though he's claims he's in bad health.

[@genekelly8467]

Good point-and Roth lived like a pauper-he had no weaknesses that could be exploited. That made Michael suspicious-all Mafia bosses need a weakness in underlings that they can exploit. No doubt Tom Hagen did research on Cuba-and learned that the Batista regime was close to collapse.

[@fulaan1]

15:18 why would Roth put a hit on Pantagili after Michael told him, he would?

[@portugal5698]

Roth had the upper hand on Michael until he messed up, let his emotions get the best of him and went on a passive aggresive rant about Moe Greene. That was all Michael needed to hear to confirm his suspicions.

[@eazyeighty5590]

What does someone with power desire the most? More power..

[@Shizz23sp]

Pentangeli said that Clemenza died from a heart attack or something in that nature something fishy like he got him killed to take over that’s why Rosita brothers was mad because clemenza promise them

[@cocoaddams4502]

Clemenza died because he wanted more money to play Clemenza.

[@Brandon-a-writer]

I think, if you watch it properly and understand how Michael sees Frank's actions--he actually sees Frank as honest from the first. He is the only person being completely frank and honest with him from the start. Everyone else is hiding their true agenda behind false smiles and innuendo. Roth does the same. Michael is able to see that Frank is angry, that he disagrees, but that they are ultimately on the same side. He would never have tried such a thing. It's an infamnia to kill women and children, and it is likely that Frank would have--ahh, again, you got to it again! Yeah, he sees that Franky is the only person who is completely honest with him, he is too drunk to be acting surreptitiously. I think it's obvious that Michael is looking for a sign that it was Roth and gets it when Roth claims that Frank is 'small potatoes', virtually saying in so many words, 'he doesn't have the power to get to you. I have more power than him.' He gets his confirmation in the Moe Greene speech, another great moment in film history. Have been watching through all your videos man, consistent content on such massive landmarks in film history is a great achievement. Cheers man, hopefully we can speak again soon.

[@michaelharrison3602]

I doubt if Frank Pentangell could have set up a hit on Michael in such a short time after his conversation with Michael

[@acerbicatheist2893]

I'd always thought it was spelled "PENTANGELE" but I can easily believe that it's "PENTANGELI" and indeed this is more accurate since the plural of "Angele" would be "ANGELI" so I guess I was misled by someone else's bad spelling and/or bad Italian and Latin! Plus how fortuitous that it ended up NOT being Clemenza whose character had to undergo such dramatic reversals over the course of Pt.II; they'd have been just too much for the credibility of the character to have withstood...and indeed might have seemed absurd even with the great propensity of humans to commit such amazing betrayals and extremities of character-failings. Either way - great programme....exxcept for the omission of mentioning the Cuban sex-show scene...very strange...in more ways than one! "Superman" indeed! XDDD Bigus Dicus more lije!

[@MabDarogan2]

The Risotto Brothers?

[@judywright4241]

Yep, they cook a mean rice dish😆

[@cosmicskates7721]

@@judywright4241 my fat @ss wants arroz con canela y leche lol but sourdough w rizote I'd way rather have omg i'm starving 😆

[@alejandrosuarez5540]

Can someone please explain what is meant by the video creator when he states, more than once, that "Pentangili was originally Clemenza"? Im very confused by that since they are two separate characters.

[@maryc530]

It was a lie that Michael was being hard on the negotiations “and you believed?”

[@somersetbassett4580]

trust people who show you they are willing to tell you to F off when you're wrong

[@gardtexas603]

What I don't understand: Hyman Roth is an old man Michael is young. You always fear and respect the old men in a profession where men die young!!!!

[@CharlesFockaert]

michael's first clue was hyman's last name.

[@jabojr5171]

I want to know who killed the killers that attempted to kill Michael?

[@nyworker]

"He's small potatoes" or Roth thinks the NYC crime families are not the future compared to the casino business which Michael is his biggest rival.

[@viviancalender453]

How was pantangali originally clamenza. I thought michael said that he was glad went to pantangali when clamenza died.

[@harukrentz435]

In the pre-production clemenza was supposed to re-appear in the sequel only for coppola to reject the actor who played the role because the latter insisted for his own dialogue in the scripts.

[@chickencharlie1992]

Never really realized that Fredo was the underboss. Now he definitely needs to go. Can't have that in your family or your "family".

[@DaveSCameron]

is this a repeat upload?

[@danielciurleo]

ROSATO not RISOTTO BROTHERS

[@NanoGamingGamer]

It was because he was Jewish. Who else would be behind it?

[@andrewbundy252]

Abit controversial mate 😅

[@feliciacoffey6832]

Antisemitic slurs. How unimaginative.

[@Thor-Orion]

@@feliciacoffey6832 where's the slur?

[@miqueiasalvaro6109]

It is always them...

[@3335pooh]

i always thought the reaction "he's small potatoes" was rather odd.

[@manuelsoto9134]

The air conditioning in Roth’s home is off, correct?

[@Sole-Survivor]

liked/shared

[@scotenat2843]

Every. Single. Time

[@stacysatterfield2154]

Oranges and the hit on Vito in GODFATHER 1. So that is why Johnny Ola gives Michael an orange. I like Frankie 5 Angels. Fredo is so pathetic.