Michael telling Clemenza he can have his own family when they move to Nevada isn't Clemenza's last scene in the movie, it's not the last we see of him. After that scene we see him do a hit on three bosses in an elevator with a shotgun; we see him strangle Carlo to death in a car; and we see him kiss Michael's hand in the very final scene of the movie and call him Godfather, thereby pledging his loyalty to Michael. You need to get it straight dude!
Pentangelli didn't take over Clemenza's house after he died, he took over Vito Corleone's house. Michael even visits him there unexpectedly and shares his memories of the old days, telling Frankie he was glad the house "never went to strangers".
The scene where Michael tells Clemenza he can break away after the move to Nevada is not that last we see of Clemenza "on camera". Pete is at Vito's funeral , we see him kill Victor Stracci with two shot gun blasts in the elevator, he garrotes Carlo Rizzi in the car and he kisses Michael's pinky ring in the final scene before Neri closes the door on Kay.
What happened to Pete Clemenza before Godfather II is the same thing that happened to Tom Hagen before Godfather III. They were both rubbed-out by executive producers working for the Corleone faction of Paramount Pictures. If Al Pacino had asked for too much money going into Godfather Part III they probably would have rubbed him out and replaced him with Dean Martin or Jerry Lewis.
@wokyerdogatlunch Jerry Lewis might have surprised us. He was a prick in real life and played a very good prick in "The King of Comedy." Funny, but I never found him funny; too silly, but I think he could act. Dean Martin was always Dean Martin. Great guy to watch be himself. But I don't think he could have stepped up to the role. I agree. I think that makes me laugh, too. I think Lewis might have surprised us. Kind of like how Gig Young surprised everyone with "They Shoot Horse, Don't they?". Until then, he was thought "actor-lite" as well.
I appreciate the explanation in the story line. Very well done. But behind the scenes Richard castellano wanted more$$ to reprise role in Godfather 2. So they wrote him out
Actually, Richard Castellano (Clemenza) had a ding bat wife who convinced him he was the big star of the first movie and convinced him to make unreasonable demands for his appearance in the 2nd movie, so they wrote him out and brought in Frankie 5 Angels.
Just though about this: Willie ChiChi was never dealt with for his testimony at the senate hearing. Damn! And Frankie 5 Angles made his thoughts know to his Don, but fell in line like a soldier.
It was more they just didn't bother to mention one way or the other. Noteworthy however is ChiChi admitted no direct contact and at that time his testimony was worthless against the family boss. The buffer aka capo Frankie would need to confirm this at trial. You can figure either an arrangement was made by Michael or ChiChi would not have had a pleasant life on the streets in the life. Frankie didn't fall in line the sight of his brother reminded him of his oath. Tom likely explained to Frankie about the trick, which was actually an adlib not even in the script. Whether he believed it was irrelevant his honor to the oath overrode that along with assurances his family would retain their position and wealth.
Killing clamenza was step 1 in roths plan, he cant move on michael until clamenza is gone cuz hes too street smart ,remember this wasn't about roth taking over the corleone family it was about revenge he needed to get rid of clamenza knowing he would be replaced by someone less cunning in frank pentangeline and the rosatto brothers and there allies had a score to settle with the corleones going all the way back to the olive oil wars so it was easy for roth to recruit them.
Genco was close with Vito long before Vito met Clemenza and Tessio. We have Frank Pentangeli (M.V. Gazzo) because Richard Castellano's contract issues for the second film. Frankie comes to Nevada to complain to Michael about Clemenza's death and it is strongly implied that the Rosato brothers had something to do with it
I know I'm late to the game here and lots of you guys are much more well-versed in Godfather Saga, but I thought that the Richard Castellano lost a large amount of weight in-between movies and refused to gain it back after asked to. One of the reasons he gave for losing the weight was the director of GF1 and he had a falling out and made him do the running up the stairs scene for over 20 takes. I could definitely be mistaken; in the books he has a massive heart attack and fall head-first onto the grill I think (long before GF2 so...plot hole?). I agree with someone else's comments, Pete Clemenza was a great character regardless (RIP Bruno Kirby and Richard Castellano). Love the character. Love the whole Godfather Saga!
Mike took care of business steming from questioning his authority after Vito retired. Plus the convo in the yard about the traitor I feel that mike couldn't leave nothing to chance
I think Clemenza is Pentangali . The actor wanted too much money so his character had a heart attack and Pentangle took over. It was smooth. I don't know if the original actor could have pulled it off.
I think Roth had Clemenza wacked to create discord within the family. Then get the Risatos to act a fool so that there would have to be a sit-down so that Frankie 5 Angels would be prone for an assassination too...to clean out all the old Corleone guys and then leave Michael exposed
No your wrong -At the end of Godfather 1, Clemenzo kisses Michael's hand AND calls him God Father -Which is Symbolic of allegiance to Michael as the GODFATHER, therefore Clemenza was killed by the Hands of Hyman Roth Clemanza kisses the Don
The actor who played Clemenza had a ding bat wife who convinced him he was the big star of the first movie and convinced him to make unreasonable demands for his appearance in the 2nd movie. So they wrote him out. I liked Clemenza a lot, but if he was in the second movie Frank Pentangeli wouldn't have been, and Frankie 5 Angels is one of the best supporting characters of the 2 movies in my opinion. I laugh every time I see him at that hearing and he changes course and says "I don't know nothin about that" lol.
I would love to have seen a movie produced nowadays in which the original script for The Godfather II with Clemenza in the movie would be done. I know it is not feasible to do this, but I am curious to know the difference within the impact of the movie this would have made.
Please for the love of God hire a narrator who can properly pronounce the names. It's Vee-toe and NOT Veto or Vi toe (pronounced that way when he talks about the funeral). Also it's Cap O Re seem not Cape O Rezum
reading people is not an uncanny ability , most people are easily read even the stren faced give away a lot with their eye's , and it is the civilized and well schooled that are more prone to treachery and betrayal most of the wild and primitive prefer to go at you straight up , it is the honorable men of rome who stabbed ceaser in the back old sch primitive clemenza loved his Don and was loyal to his death which is why young Michael thought more of tessio as the betrayer
