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"It Was the Smart Move"

posted 5 years ago by ecarle (14979)
6 replies | jump to latest

All the great "life insights" in The Godfather. Here's one.

At Don Vito's funeral, what Vito predicted comes to pass: Tessio is the man who brings Michael the offer to meet with Barzini. Vito had warned: that man would be the traitor. Now Michael knows, and Hagen counsels him:

Hagen: Tessio? I always thought it would be Clemenza.
Michael: No. Tessio was always smarter that Clemenza. It was the smart move.

A lot of insight there. A bit of insight into Hagen. A lot of insight into Michael. Michael is more astute than Hagen. Michael may like Clemenza as an "uncle figure," but he has made his judgment: Clemenza isn't as smart as Tessio.

And Michael almost grudgingly admires Tessio, here. He was smarter. It was the smart move.

But not smart enough. I do like how this scene pays off so much later when Hagen and some goons confront Tessio over his treachery and Tessio -- still making "the smart move" -- doesn't fight his imminent execution. He tries rather -- making the smart move -- to negotiate for his life.

Tessio: Couldn't Mike let me off the hook -- for old time's sake?

Hagen: No can do(paraphrased.)

Tessio: Tell Mike it was nothing personal...just business.

The smart move.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 5 years ago

I never understood why betraying Michael was "the smart move".

[–] ecarle (14979) 5 years ago

We never saw a scene to get into this involving Tessio and Barzini, but in Michael's one line, we could SEE everything:

Tessio had been loyal through the entire movie, but often warned Sonny and Michael not to get too deeply into conflict with the other families -- it could be dangerous.

And now Don Vito has died, and Barzini is clearly rallying the other families to rout the Corleones. Its like Moe Greene said in Vegas: "You Corleones don't have the juice anymore...you're finished."

Simply put, Barzini and the other families don't think "good guy and war hero" Michael Corleone has what it takes to run the top Mafia family, they are ready to take over.

And Tessio sees ALL of that...and chooses to go against Michael, and with Barzini. Its the smart move. And its not personal. Tessio always liked Michael...he just didn't believe in him. Kinda like Michael feeling that Tessio was smarter than Clemenza. These men make business judgments. That lead to death.

The "climactic satisfaction" of The Godfather -- one reason I think millions loved it so -- is that they can RELATE to Michael. Nobody thinks Michael is as good as his father was, nobody thinks Michael can lead the Corleones. That's why Tessio makes the smart move.

And in one fell swoop during his son's baptism, Michael orchestrates the killing of ALL the heads of the other families. And then, as a "chaser" Hagen and Michael let Tessio and Carlo know that they've been found out, and their co-conspirators are all dead. Sweet satisfaction. Though I've always imagined that Tessio got a more merciful death(quick with a bullet) than Carlo did.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 5 years ago

I agree that Tessio was given a quick death.

[–] strntz (12239) 5 years ago

I guess it would have been the smart move if wiley old Don Vito hadn't tipped Michael off. Even though he was getting old and "slipping", he figured out that after his death, someone inside the family might betray him and reveal himself by setting up the meeting.

So the big question is, if Vito didn't warn Michael about the betrayal, would Michael have known??

[–] TexasJack (12516) 5 years ago

I think he would have figured it out. He was intelligent and very little got past him. I also think his suspicion level would have been high after living through multiple assassination attempts on his father and one attempt against him.

[–] Sandman81 (1509) 5 years ago

I think Michael would have been smart enough to know a betrayal and assassination attempt was coming, but he wouldn't know by who or when. Thanks to the Don's tip, he knew everything and was able to strike first and decisively.