Could someone please explain the plot of Godfather II to me?

I just didn't get it. I payed close attention, but I just couldn't follow it.

The flashback stuff with the young Vito (Robert DeNiro) is fine. Makes sense. It's all the events of the present that I didn't get.

What's Hymen Roth's connection with everyone?

Who are the Rosato brothers and whose side are they on?

What's the story with Franky Pentangeli? Why does Michael think it was him who betrayed him? Why does he retract his testimony when his brother shows up at the Senate hearing? And why does he kill himself?

So who was Fredo working for? And how did Michael find out it was him who betrayed him?

How did Havana and the Cuban rebels fit into everything?



The first Godfather film I understood and really enjoyed, but in Part II, I was just scratching my head trying to work out what was going on.

If any of you can shed any light on my questions, it will be much appreciated.

 

I understand there are some unclear plot points people might encounter watching G2, but from your questions, I strongly recommend you see it again. Like you said, you just didn't get it; some of the answers should be pretty obvious.

What's Hymen Roth's connection with everyone?
Jewish businessman who deals with the Corleone family. He and Michael have a surface of mentor-student, partner to partner relationship, but the entire movie's plotline is generated out of their intentions to eliminate each other.

Who are the Rosato brothers and whose side are they on?
The Rosato brothers were given the territory that Pentangeli had hoped to be in charge of after the Corleones moved out of New York. They are, basically, against Michael.

What's the story with Franky Pentangeli? Why does Michael think it was him who betrayed him? Why does he retract his testimony when his brother shows up at the Senate hearing? And why does he kill himself?
Michael does not think Pentangeli betrayed him. Michael KNOWS that it was Roth. It is Pentangeli who mistakingly thinks Michael tried to kill him. He retracts his testimony either out of honor or fear in front of his brother, or both, I have primarily thought of it as fear for his brother's life. He kills himself because he is worthless now. Tom's conversation with him assures that his family will be taken care of.

So who was Fredo working for? And how did Michael find out it was him who betrayed him?
Fredo wasn't necessary working for Roth and Johnny Ola, but he at the least slipped information to Ola for them to have a shot at Michael in his own home. Michael finds out when he overhears Fredo mentioning that Ola brought him to the sex show while they were there. Fredo had previously denied knowing Johnny Ola.

How did Havana and the Cuban rebels fit into everything?
Roth and Michael were trying to buy a piece of Cuba with the old regime. They would have complete freedom with their businesses just outside of the US. The rebels overthrows the regime, and thus Roth and Michael's plan is no longer able to come true.

 

You're probably right. I do need to watch the film again.

Thanks a lot for your answers. It makes a lot more sense.

But...

If Michael doesn't think it was Frank, why does he start shouting at him when he goes to see him. "In my home! In my bedroom where my wife sleeps!" etc?

So who gave the Rosato brothers the Corleone's old New York territory?

Johnny Ola? These names have lost me. Who is he?

Is it deliberately left ambiguous the extent of which Fredo was "working for" Roth?

 

the more you watch it the more you understand it. the book "the Godfather" goes into more detail. it kinda has both movies combined into one book. its a very good book

 

I?ve been wondering about Part II myself. I understand the original 6 ½ hour version would have explained all, but the present day version with Michael feels like a series of stories that are unconnected ? at least to me. The above explainations helped me too.

Vitos? story is some sort of reverse parallel to his son?s life I?m sure, but I?ve felt it could have been dropped and made more room to explain Michaels story more.

 

tip: read the book.

it's by mario puzi and is really quite excalent.

 

Technically, it's Mario Puzo.

 

There's a sequel!?!

 

Ben Kenobi: smart arse, no offence or nuttin.

The Bigger Fish: there are three films, and on book. though the book is actually a collection of short books just compiled into one volume.

 

What's Hymen Roth's connection with everyone?

Roth is a Jweish mafia boss who manages to sort out a deal with the Batista government in Cuba that will allow a massive American gambling influence into the country, and Roth needs money from the Corleone's if they are to be partners to him in this. It is revealed later, however, that he only intended to take the money and that he was out to kill Michael from the beginning onwards.

Who are the Rosato brothers and whose side are they on?

An Italian mafia family in New York who are affiliates (and obviously the subordinates) of Roth. They try to kill Frankie Fiveangels (Pentangelli) though they are not successful. The reason they mention Michael Corleone during the failed garotting is to confuse both the audience and Pentangellin in his dying moments.

What's the story with Franky Pentangeli?

Frankie was possibly one of the caporegimes to Don Vito Corleone (he might have been a subordinate of Clemenza though; we are not sure) though we did not see him in the first film. The character was hastily written into the film when Peter Castellano decided not to take part in the second flick as Clemenza when his suggestions about the character were not taken on board by Coppolla. That is why Clemenza's passing is briefly mentioned in the beginning of the film.

Why does Michael think it was him who betrayed him?

Pentangelli thinks that Michael tried to have him murdered. That is why he goes to the police and coughs up. So he does betray him, in that sense. Until, that is, his older brother shows up.

Why does he retract his testimony when his brother shows up at the Senate hearing? And why does he kill himself?

He retracts his testimony when he is reminded of the bonds of family when he sees his brother again. Whatever happens, you do not betray your family and sort it out in house. The reason why he kills himself is obvious from the speech about the Roman Empire that he gives to Tom Hagen.

So who was Fredo working for? And how did Michael find out it was him who betrayed him?

Fredo was promised a deal by Johhny Ola, Hyman Roth's Sicilian messenger boy where he was to be given money and control of some casinos. It is unlikely that he knew the plans included the possible assasination of his brother as he tells Ola on the phone that he has been dragged into the whole affair much more than he originally wanted to. Michael always had a hunch that Fredo betrayed him but this was confirmed in the night club scene where Fredo tells the Senators that Ola first took him there when previously he had said that he had not met Ola before.

How did Havana and the Cuban rebels fit into everything?

Castro takes over the country: bye bye American business interest, legitimate or illegitimate.

Hope this helps.

 

I think I'm gonna have to watch it again tonight.

 

You should. Godfather 2 is a masterpiece. So is the first Godfather. The third one is... well... let's just say George Hamilton is in it and Robert Duvall isn't.

 

Part III would be fine, if the first two didn't exist.

 

I still prefer Godfather to its sequels, nevertheless.

 

Well, the previous posts explained the plot... I'd like to add something I read once about Godfather Part II. You see, what makes it such a compelling film is that it shows how in an earlier time in America, you could prosper financially while keeping strong family bonds, while after WWII, the force of capitalism became so great it could tear a family apart. (Fredo betraying Michael, then Michael killing Fredo).

That is why Michael asks his Mom, was Vito ever afraid that by protecting his family he could lose his family...

Still the best Godfather movie, IMHO...

 

Transcript

Godfather boards

I suggest renting the Godfather trilogy DVD collection. It's got some great commentary.



...and a mango. (or should that be orange? )

 

Personally, I like Godfather II better than the first one. Much more intensely personal, in my opinion. Classic structure and takes Michael a lot deeper than you'd think they could.

The third one is actually not bad. There are some really excellent scenes, but it doesn't sustain the genius as well as the first two. The first two, though, wow, it's like a succession of vignettes that are all so stunning and unforgettable.

 

Don Vito Corleone had only two caproregimes. The first (and longest-running) was Genco Abbadondo, written about in the book. The second was, of course, Tom Hagen.

I recommend The Godfather (the book, in this case) to anyone. It is superbly written, and goes into great detail about things mentioned only in passing in the movies, or not at all.

 

I missed Tom Hagen in the Third Godfather.
The Godfather Part III is actually a fairly decent film. I think the order of "goodness" goes in order though.

 

If Fredo has just given the one ring to Michael, he could have avoided such a difficult journey.

Oops..sorry, wrong movie.
I was thinking of Frodo.

And if Michael Skywalker and Hymen Palpatine could have dropped the pretense of their mentor/student relationship and revealed they were really out to get each other...
oops...sorry, wrong movie, again.

LOL, sorry, you'll have to excuse me, I'm feeling a little silly today. (I'm allowed to get goofy every once in awhile...I'm usually so absurdly sidious. Oops, uh, I meant serious.)

 

I can't believe what I wrote.

I completely erred with the caproregimes. The capros the Godfather had were Clemenza and Tessio. However, the book goes into detail about them as well.

 

Clemenza and Tessio were Don Vito's Capo Regime's and not Genco Abbandando and Tom Hagen, who were his consiglere (s.p.?). Nevertheless, there is a feeling in the second film as if Pentangelli could have indeed been the Don's capo though, as stated in my first post, I don't buy this as both he seems to be a subordinate of Clemenza, maybe even his capo.

The Godfather is my favourite film of all time. The sequel makes the Top Ten but not the Top Five. I am a geek.

 

Ok, I watched the first half again last night. I'll watch the rest tonight. It made a lot more sense and I am enjoying it.

Still a couple of questions though:

1] When Michael goes to see Frank, he starts shouting at him "In my home! In my bedroom where my wife sleeps!" It sounds to me like Michael is accusing him of being involved. Then a minute later he says he knows it was Hymen Roth. Did Michael really know that Frank wasn't involved? If so, why did he start shouting at him.

2] When Frank is nearly killed, one of the Rosato brothers says "Michael Corleone says hello". Why say that to him? Why play mind games with someone you're about to kill? It makes no sense to me, other than for the sake of the plot he needs to think it was Michael.

Help.

 

It's just like TPM. No one understands the plot of that film, either

 

2] When Frank is nearly killed, one of the Rosato brothers says "Michael Corleone says hello". Why say that to him? Why play mind games with someone you're about to kill? It makes no sense to me, other than for the sake of the plot he needs to think it was Michael.

Never made any sense to me either.

One cool thing that I never noticed until the DVDs came out is that Johnny Ola is played by Dominic Chianese, who you probably know better as Corrado "Junior" Soprano