"I would have thought it’d been that fat Clemenza. " I say that all the time for decades now whenever someone tells me a non-flatterint story about someone.
The scene in the hospital where Michael and the nurse move Vito’s bed before the hitmen arrive. Michael takes his father’s hands and says “I’m with you now, pop.” The moment Michael makes a spiritual as well as almost physical change. Moving forward, there are no more slouched shoulders or deference, to anyone besides Vito.
The family did give Fredo the opportunity to be important and have respect. Earlier in the movie, Fredo proudly exclaims “I’m gonna learn the casino business.”. The family sent him out to learn from Moe Green and eventually head up the family operations in Vegas. Instead, he just parties and bangs cocktail waitresses, two at a time. He embarrasses the family and fails spectacularly at the opportunity. He has proven he can only be given Mickey Mouse clubs and to pick someone up at the airport.
Let’s not forget, Fredo also declined the extra security for pop when Paulie calls in sick. “The Don is slipping, 10 years ago, could I have gotten to him?” No, because 10 years prior, they wouldn’t have let his idiot son be the only bodyguard for him, who also probably hired the turncoat bodyguard who set him up. Fredo breaking down and crying in the street is not only grief over his father being shot, but also the realization that he failed at yet another simple task, protecting his father. The reason he declined the extra security was to have alone time with pop and show him that he had everything under control.
I have seen 1 and 2 probably a legitimate 50 times each. I’ve only seen 3 once. Not that it wouldnt be a decent movie on its own, just does not fit for a trilogy.
He coulda lived at his friends, used his pool, eaten his food, partied with his molly and banged his wife. The only rule was to not fall in love and try to steal her and what does he fucking go and do ???