"They went home and sat in a hot bath and opened their veins, and bled to death. Sometimes they gave a little party before they did it. Don't worry about anything Frankie Five Angels. Thanks Tom. Thanks." ―Frank Pentangeli and Tom Hagen
Possibly the greatest scene of the entire trilogy. Nothing is said outright. Everything is implied. Two gentlemen who know full well what's going on. A handshake seals it. You take your life against your families safety and security. Wow. 3 1/2 minutes of perfection.
@@diogenes. the must touching thing in this scene, in my opinion, it's this idea of roman loyalty and the idea of suicide in the name of the honor. The ideia that only the word it's enough and in the name of this ancient code and fidelity, a extreme action must be done. And it will be. And everything is discussed using these keycodes subliminal mensages and analogies.
@@caiograco3427 yeah man ,it's great, the acting ,the script, everything, even the birds were prefect, yeah the first thing he asked if his brother is alright ,then what do i do now tom ,in other words I'm at your mercy... Coppola is a genius
Exactly what I was thinking. Frank was right all along, sold out by Michael, deceived by Roth, & even at the end, wished for nothing more than to have things go back to the ways things were before.
@@sethevans7587 Michael didn't sold him, roth mens played it like Michael order them to kill him, but not, just like what tom said, roth really did played it well.
"The Corleone Family was like the Roman Empire." "It was, once." Ah, the sadness in Tom's voice...even as powerful as the Family appears to be under Michael, it's still not the same as it once was. And Tom knows it. I can only imagine how Part 3 would have turned out if Robert Duvall stayed on and Coppola was able to do what he planned.
He broke omerta. That alone was a death sentence back then. Remember, this was written before half of the mob became informants. Valachi was the first and that happened only 6 years before the book was written. Valachi also thought his boss was gonna have him killed and he was partially the basis for Frankie five angels. He died in jail though, not suicide.
@@mauricio460 If your boss betrays u, go to another boss to take revenge or take your revenge yourself. Going to the law is forbidden by anymeans in omerta.
Modern films are missing scenes like this. Such great dialogue. Two powerful characters having a conversation behind a fence, and it carries more dramatic weight than anything in a 100 million dollar CGI spectacle.
@@slobodanranitovic471 That is so cool! It's interesting, I think the "Pent" prefix comes from the Greeks (like English geometry words pentagram (five pointed star) , pentagon etc. Italian for five is "cinque". I do not know any Greek but I searched "Five angels" in an English to Greek google translator and it said "pénte ángeloi". So it is very possible that "Pentangeli" is a Greek surname or a surname of one of the Greek communities in Southern Italy. There are a number of both Greek and Albanian communities in Southern Italy dating back to the time of the Turkish invasion (My great grandmother was Arberëshe, she came from an Albanian community in Calabria).
Everything about this movie is so damn perfect. And this scene, dear lord. I have no words. The dialogue, the acting, the subtle agreement between Tom and Frankie to kill himself. Just pure perfection, one of the greatest scenes ever, if not the greatest.
It's for the better Tom didn't appear in Pt.III. This.scene is the perfect ending for the character: he understands the lifestyle amd the underworld Empire has degenerated into a rampage of paranoia, betrayal and murder. His "father" (Vito) and "brother" (Sonny) were long gone. That cancer was probably the result of his disappoinment and regret.
@Trey Stephens that’s how I feel about a lot of things that have been ruined by liberal BS and bad writing. Game Of Thrones, Star Wars, Last of Us Part 2 was trash. Good thing some great things ended years ago, Breaking Bad, Sopranos etc. I don’t mean to ramble but I do agree with all of you. 👏🏻
If Frankie five angels was not honorable then he would try to weasel his way out of it and not kill himself. If Tom was not honorable then he would not give his word that Frankie‘s family would be cared for. Peace and honor to you.
Frank Pentangeli is one of my favorite characters from The Godfather he seems like the most relatable he had a heart and that "everyman" charm. The actor who plays him gives a great performance that is often overlooked and underappreciated.
I always liked that dude the best in the Godfather movies...he seemed really like the most legit mobster of them all. Frank Pentangeli....Frankie 5 Angels.
The line, "You were always interested in politics and history" serves as a reminder that Frank Pentangeli was written to replace Pete Clemenza, who was a history buff in the first film.
I'm actually kinda glad that Clemenza was replaced. Would be sad for him to also betray Michael. Although his betrayal would be a little different from Tessios
That music after Tom says 'It was once' referring to the Corleone Empire. Everything in the first 2 movies has a purpose. Part II is the greatest movie of all time.
I respectively disagree. Although I think both part 1 and part 2 are both 10/10, in my opinion part 1 is superior. I can be bias though because I like how you had all the characters in part 1 and part 2 was watered down and mainly Michael. But aye both are 10/10. 👍
One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history. Coppola is a genius and was a young man when this masterpiece was released. A subtle but powerful touch is when Tom is in the car and says to Frank "addio" (Italian for farewell, goodbye forever).
"It was.. once..." with a wishful retrospective gaze, goes to show that tom never expected that Michael would become a calm deviant psychopath. Now the family is scrambled under Michael's supervision, and imagined times with Vito Corleone's Compassionate Charisma for the family
I think you are disillusioned with Vito's rule or Frankie's words. They were the Roman Empire because they experienced being showered with wealth and were almost untouchable. But even Vito admitted that these were all temporary. His dream was to become the big wig but never became one. He wanted to passed it in his son but none were capable except for Michael. They are a family of Killers whose only interest is their own Family. But even as loving as a "Family" they can be, Vito's creed has always been about being careful with traitors. Yes they are the Roman Empire because people around them were all cloaks and daggers. One wrong turn and the rule is over. But not with Michael. His rule was absolute till his death and beyond. He planned to do what any of them failed to do, he wanted to become legitimate but his subordinates were all drunken from power and false imagery that he thinks he is just some ass kisser. Frankie thought Michael betrayed him when he didn't. The Judas was Fredo, and he did it to his brother and nephews and niece. If they could atleast be as competent like Tom, the troubles with Hyman Roth could've went smoothly but everyone got their own agenda.
Duvall plays it so well. Looks longingly in the distance while saying “It was once”, obviously knowing how far the family has fallen. But immediately switch’s back into lawyer mode. One of the greatest scenes in film history
The family hasn't fallen. It has just on its way to becoming legitimate. When the Corleone family was only a criminal enterprise it was a much bigger organization.
@DixiePokerAce to Tom it was that he felt right in with the family Don vito was the emperor that everyone loved, Sonny was the one that made Tom feel like a brother, fredo was the party guy. Michael was always the one that isolated himself from the family and cut Tom out because he kept reminding him he wasn't a Sicilian. Tom was felt alone too and missed the old family.
@@jacksoncaldwell3865 No, those are two different actors. The actor who played Don Ciccio in Godfather II (the one who was "sliced in half") was Guiseppe Sillato. The actor who played Frank Pentangeli was Michael V. Gazzo.
The beauty of that scene is when Franky says "and sometimes they had a party before they did it" the Hustle never dies. Trying one last life line and Tom just tosses the cigar and tells Franky everything is gonna be alright. Just like Sally asking Tom in the first one if he can get off for old times sake, "Not a chance." Tom wasn't wartime but he was Cosa Nostra through and through.
Actually Tom's "Not a chance" line was when Fredo wanted to see Michael during their mother's wake. When Salvatore Tessio asked Tom Hagen if he could get him off the hook "for old time's sake" Tom told him "Can't do it Sally."
this is my favorite scene in all of film. hearing Tom say, "Don't worry about anything, Frankie Five Angels," you know based on the conversation that he isn't telling Frank he himself is going to be okay, but that his loved ones will be safe and cared for when he kills himself. perfect soundtrack for the interaction. just haunting and beautiful at the same time.
When Frankie says the Corleone family was like the Roman Empire, the music starts to show their nostalgia for the old times and they both knew that those days would never come back.
I love how Coppola kept the actors at a distance and in one take; close-ups and cutting would have been unsubtle and wrecked the scene. It's 10 times more powerful when it dawns on the audience that Tom is suggesting Frank kill himself and Frank agrees.
yep, now there are always too much cuts in movies, as if the audience was unable to stay focused on a scene without any action, like babies or hyperactive children
Scenes like this are the reason why I rank Godfather 2 over 1. It’s just mesmerizing. It’s genius how this scene is shot during a sunset, and when Tom says “It was once,” it signifies the sun setting of the Corleone family, no longer in its shining luster of the former years. And the music, as always, is introduced perfectly and beautifully. Every scene of this movie is classic, the greatest film in cinema.
There are not 10 better written scenes in movie history - amazing stuff. Controversial take but I actually think Pentangeli is a more compelling character than Clemenza.
WIthout a doubt. Pentangeli also known as Michael V. Gazzo, now deceased, had the performance of his life and should have won countless awards and also gone down as one of the best performances as a supporting actor EVER.
@@Comictalent As should John Cazale. Amazing how a film can have three actors nominated for best supporting actor and you can rightly claim that they should have had more.
True, but there were emotional ties to Clemenza from the first movie. It’s Clemenza that jokes around with Michael during Part I and then teaches him how to make the sauce. It’s Clemenza who teaches Michael how to shoot and tells him how proud the family is of him for saving the Don at the hospital. And it’s Clemenza that stays loyal and helps Michael win the war. To have Clemenza betray Michael in Part 2 would have been incredibly powerful after the bond we saw between them in the first movie.
That's probably what Tom was thinking too. When Vito was alive both the crime family and the blood family were strong. People respected Vito in the underworld enough to make deals with him. But with Michael they were too scared of what he'd do to them if they refused.
This scene is so sad. Frankie Pentangeli makes a deal with Tom Hagen at the behalf of Michael Corleone. He later kills himself in order to protect his family. He was a man of honor no matter the cost. Adios Frankie Five Angels.
How can this movie still keep me glued to the screen even though I have seen it close to 100 times? It’s quite simple…Raw acting at it’s finest with a brilliant script!
The best scenes in both Gofather films feature Duvall heavily. This being one snd the Woltz estate scene. He's a "secondary" character in these films z yet overshadows them all. That's not a coincidence. That's how good Duvall ism
"It was...once." Tom contrasted the compassion and integrity of Vito versus the cold and calculated ruthlessness of the Don's youngest son Michael. Yes, Michael found a way to get back on top undisputed...but at the cost of both his figurative and literal family. Saddest scene in the film IMHO.
Not entirely. The Feds were cracking down on not just the Corleone family at the time. The Mafia was seeing the sun starting to sink. Rome declined, too.
i am 41 years old...been watching these movies ever since i was 13....and to this day, i'm still finding hidden details on these movies.....it's a fkn masterpiece. Coppola gave attencion to the minor detail. Can you hear the birds ?? Roman 'omen" for death or luck...you can hear them on Fredo's death scene also. The orange, always at the plot of a murder.
@@mundobostal8530 They barely are.. they aren't anymore corrupt now that politicians are. Most of the families were severely reduced in the US do to the fact that they ratted on each other to save themselves from massive jail sentences.
This scene is a Juggernaut in cinema. The way Tom drives the conversation to the point in which he lets Frankie reach the conclusion that suicide is the most honorable way to pay for his betrayal of Michael. This is why The Godfather will continue standing the test of time.
@@Paul-vf2wl still honorable. Frankie was old school and he was going down the honorable way, and of course, to save his family as you well pointed out.
You just don’t see subtlety like this in films, now. Audiences seem to need it all to be spelled out for them, or at least that’s what a lot of filmmakers or studios think, now. The truth is there’s so much beauty in this scene because of its subtlety. It’s sad. Mournful of old times long past.
One of the most tragic character in the whole Godfather saga is definitely Frank Pentangeli, First he warned Michael that the Rosato brothers were encroaching his very own family in New York but Michael deliberately ignored him, very insulting indeed. Then he was almost killed almost in the same time when assassination attempt of Michael took place but once again Michael was solely concerned on himself and handled the problems only by his own method, To buy some times so that Michael could figure out the traitor in his family, Frank was garroted by Rosato as a result of that Michael's strategy. His most tragic fate was his death, he was encouraged by Tom to commit suicide after he had given it all. Becoming a prisoner to let Michael free in the name of Omerta. Frank's fate for death for me was even more tragic than Fredo, he didn't deserve to be treated that way by Michael.
Tom was actually negotiating for just Frankie's family, Frankie didnt just look out for him. He was looking out for all his men (the little guys) so he offered his life so that nothing would change apart from him dying. Tom never intended to ask Frankie to kill himself, Frankie volunteered for the better of everyone, including his image. His death would mean that he would never talk.
The way Tom tells Frankie about how they used to talk about Hitler, knowing that allegedly Hitler committed suicide... just telling Frankie, without directly telling him, that that's what the family wants him to do... and the Roman Empire talk, that's Frankie trying to make sure that his family will be taken care of after his suicide... Addio Frank!
Agreed ! But I do see one more stroke of brilliance. Not to be lost in the scene ( as I see it) is what is never said. The guiding presence of Tom who brings the matter to a close with such powerful efficiency. Frankie accepts his fate as he too is convinced by Tom there is no other option and Frankie is granted the dignity to exit on his terms. I have carried this scene with me for 40 years. From generation to generation we are blessed with artistic genius. The sad thing Is, I believe this too will one day be forgotten.
This was brilliantly acted and written. When Frankie says, 'I get a lot of good stuff to read in here.', Tom's body language says, 'Damn...I got to dislodge any notion he may have that life is good in protective custody.' So then Tom changes tack. Away from his interest in reading history books and towards the subtle deal. When Frankie says, 'yeah but the little guys all got knocked off and their estates went to the Emperor....unless, they killed themselves and then their families were taken care of.' At that point Frankie came up with the solution without Tom actually having to say it. Tom cleverly just poked him subtly in the direction he wanted him to go. A very clever lawyer. Tom had to be very careful as he wasn't sure whether Frankie was wearing a wire. Tom wanted it to be Frankie's idea based on what he knew about Frankie -- his love for Roman history. Shaking hands at the end was his way of saying, 'Your family will be taken care of...kill yourself and all will be well.' Same deal Hitler gave to Rommel.
This was my ste Dads fav scene, because it was about making sure his family was taken care of. RIP Pop, I love you, and I will take care of the family now.
He is nicknamed "Frankie Five Angels" from his last name, which is formed from the Greek-derived prefix penta- (meaning "five") and the Italian word angeli ("angels").
Every summer since I saw this movie for the 1st time in 1996 when I was 18, I'll get up at 5AM on a sunny summers dawn, smoke a cigar while the birds wake up and start chirping and get this scenes EXACT same vibes.
To me greatest sense in movie history. It’s the little things from the actors. When Tom says the actors families were allowed to keep their wealth and then he taps Franky on the shoulder that everything will be taken care of. Even though Tom was no longer consigliere. He gave Franky advice like one.
I think this also shows the brilliance and cunning of Roth. He knew that Frank had already betrayed his former boss (Mariposa) so he figured with just a little push (the attempt on Frank's life) he'd flip again.
The dialogue for this whole movie is unbelievable. But this scene stands out more the most in movie history. It is done so poetic. Both actors were in there element and performed it to a tee. But the writing is like no other just simply perfection.
I just realized that Frankie says "sometimes they even had a little party before they did it.". Before his death scene, we see the FBI guys playing cards, waiting for Frankie to return. That was probably the "little party" Frankie had before his death.
The way Tom discards his cigar I've always interpreted this scene as Frankie's last little party, smoking with Tom with one final talk between true friends, and this gesture from Tom was his way of signaling to him "...Party's over..."
I see this scene and I always think how times have changed for the worst and we should appreciate what we have more while we are young and have the ones we love and appreciate! ❤
Breaking omerta was an automatic death sentence. There were no mitigating or extenuating circumstances. The mafia grew out of a paramilitary force which resisted foreign occupiers. In war, there is only one penalty for crossing to the other side.
Always felt bad for Pentangeli's character. (This was supposed to be Clemenza, right? But the actor couldn't negotiate a price?) But anyway, at the beginning of the movie Pentangeli asks for MIchael's help because Roth with the Rosato Brothers force were moving in and taking control of Pentangeli's NY territory. Michael refuses to intervene. Then when Pentangeli is being killed he is made to believe it was Michael who ordered the 'hit'. Up to here Pentangeli hasn't done anything wrong and is STILL serving MIchael by agreeing to meet with the Rosato Brothers for whom Pentangeli has utter disdain for. Because Pentangeli survives the hit he believes it was MIchael who betrayed him so Pentangeli agrees to talk to the FBI. In the movie, this is explained to Michael but it still didn't matter. Pentangeli for years had undying loyalty to Michael got dealt some bad cards and ended in the position he did. Really felt bad for his character......
@@liorpapismedov2519 Absolutely correct, Frankie was given a rare level of mercy and compassion because at the end of the day his "betrayal" was the most manipulated by other parties and least personal. It wasn't on the same level as Fredo, Sally, Carlo, or Paulie.
Godfather 1 or 2? I think two overall was better because of going back in time to see how the don grew up. The only reason I could understand why people liked 1 more is because Marlon Brando’s Was amazing
I met Mr. Duvall (a kid's version of "meeting") when he was in the DC area filming parts of the GF 2 in 1972. Of all places it was at a greasy spoon that sold BBQ pork sandwiches. SRO. He was in the corner waiting for his order with a human mountain standing beside him. I looked at him and knew I'd seen him "somewhere". Looked away. Looked back at him. Did that a few more times and the last time I looked he was standing in the corner with his head down and huge smile on his face. I wish I'd had the nerve to at least say hello to him.
