In the Godfather 2 when Frank Pentangelli is about to testify in front of congress Micheal Corleone walks in with Franks brother from Sicily. When Frank sees his brother he refuses to testify. I had always thought this was because Frank was ashamed to have his brother see him turn stool pigeon. I read an article today about the DVD release that posits that he refuses to testify because Micheal walking in with his brother is an impicit threat that if he testifies his family will be killed. Which is the correct reason?
To further confuse matters, I read somewhere that originally this was given a bigger setup. Frankie had kids back in Sicily that were being raised by his brother. His brother was a strong believer in omerta (code of silence). The threat was not that Michael would kill the brother, but that the brother would kill Frankie’s kids.
According to a few sources (one I believe was the GodFather Compendium) Frankie’s brother, who frankie describes as tough, would probably punish his younger brother brother through Frankie’s family if he testified. Apparently it was implied that because his brother lived in Sicily he was even more old fashioned when it came Omerta.
At least that is what I read.
I always thougt it was both that Michael was going to kill Frankie’s brother and that the brother would have disapproved of Frankie’s testimony. Frankie idolized his brother so both of these were sufficient incentives.
–Cliffy
I think it was obvious that Michael was showing to Frankie how far his (Michael’s) reach was, by bringing over Frankie’s brother. In other words, “I know where your family lives, Frankie–don’t f**k with me.” Pretty simple.
I don’t think it was intimidation. If Michael was wanting to threaten Frankie’s family, why go to Sicily to get a brother he had not seen in years? After all, Frankie did have a wife and probably other family members closer to home that the Corleone’s could threaten.
No, I think it was all a matter of shame. Frankie’s brother reminded him of his Sicilian roots and his code of honor. Frankie, always a traditionalist, decided he could not betray that heritage and code in front of his brother.
This reasoning continues to the end of Frankie. Tom Hagen did not whisper “Kill yourself, Frankie, or we’ll kill your family!”. Instead, he appealed to Frankie’s sense of tradition and old world codes of conduct by getting him to follow the example of failed Roman traitors.
All of this was going on, but the brother was also there vouching for Michael and his presence with Michael was a message telling Frankie that he was mistaken to think Michael ratted him out.
I haven’t had a chance to check it yet but does Coppala say anything on this on the DVD?
Well, the family did have a flair for the dramatic (the horse head and all). Mike, himself, didn’t have to hassle with it - he had the wherewithall. And It makes for good movie-making.
I believe it was for all the reasons.
DP–that’s a good point. I never thought of that.