MovieChat Forums > The Godfather Part II (1974) Discussion > Why would the hitman say "Michael Corleo...

Why would the hitman say "Michael Corleone says hello", if Frank Pentangeli was supposed to die?

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (20483)
3 replies | jump to latest

As we all know, it's a botched attempt, because the cop walks in the bar, and everything goes to hell and a hand basket. This results in FP surviving, but hearing those last words, he thought Michael ordered the hit on him. This leads to FP deciding to testify against Michael, feeling betrayed.

It seemed to have made the story fit, as since the hit is botched, they've now turned FP on Michael. Was this planned? It seemed too convenient that the statement and the botched hit worked out so well.

[–] onemanarmy82 (1764) 4 years ago

Personally, I don’t think the intention was to kill Frank. Killing Frank would start a war. The Rosatos work for Roth who own Senator Questadt of the Senate committee that is looking to lock up Michael. They want Frank to think Michael wants him dead so he’ll be convinced to testify against Michael. That would also benefit Roth.

IRL, the bar scene is modeled after Larry Gallo....Crazy Joe’s brother in August, 1961. The Gallos were at war with the Profacis and Carmine Persico played both sides until he decided the Profacis would benefit him more. So, Persico set up a meeting in a Brooklyn bar and attempted to strangle Larry but, a cop happened to walk in and stop the strangling.

[–] Jes' Sayin' (6543) 4 years ago

Yes, planned to get Michael in trouble.

[–] redban (6770) 4 months ago

Again - Hagen says at one point, "Roth played this one beautifully." They were never intending to actually kill Pentangeli. They were just going make him think that Michael was trying to kill him. The cop happens to show up in that spot when they're strangling Pentangeli. Roth could have arranged for that cop to check on the bar at that exact moment via anonymous tip