How/why does Michael change his attitude towards Fredo's betrayal?

At first, he still loves Fredo and understands that he didn't know there was going to be a hit. Then after the talk he had with him, he completely changes his mind and tells Fredo that he no longer means anything to him, and obviously he later has him killed. I don't understand what happened between New Years Day in Havannah and after Michael talked with Fredo that made Michael order the hit.

Could somebody explain this to me?

Michael's policy was that no traitor or enemy got a pass--ever. Fredo was an eventual dead man from the moment at the Superman show when Michael realized that Fredo betrayed him to Roth. The bit in the car in Havana ("You're still my brother, Fredo!") and his instruction to Tom when he got back to Nevada ("Tell him I understand that Roth misled him...") were both designed to lure Fredo back and keep Fredo alive until he could pump Fredo for more info--and to await Mama's passing so he could finally whack Fredo.
In sum: Michael didn't change his mind about Fredo--he was waiting for the opportune time to kill him.

Ah, I see. Thank you.

I don't quite agree with you here. If he had that kind of plans in havana party, he wouldn't have disclosed his knowledge of Fredo's betrayal(The kissing scene). At that time, he was genuinely shocked that his brother had betrayed. He was not calm and composed enough to make plans at that time, like he later did with Roth (keeping enemies closer..). I think that during the car scene, michael did not know (or realize) to what extent Fredo was involved. And here is another subtle point of difference - I think that he did not know enough to get angry enough to plan Fredo's murder, whereas you say that since michael did not know enough, he wanted to keep him alive to get more info.

Just to add on to what Turnbull said. Remember Michael's key phrase that he uttered to Frankie: "My father taught me to keep your friends close and your enemies closer." What better way to keep Fredo, his 'enemy', closer than to bring him back to Tahoe? The embrace at Mama's funeral was another extension of winning back Fredo's trust to keep him "closer."

They also did it the first film with Carlo. Once Vito figured out (it's explained better in the novel) that Carlo had a hand in Santino's death, Carlo & Connie were brought to live on the Mall. Then Mike makes it appear as if Carlo will be the "right hand man" in Nevada, thus keeping Carlo closer until the opportunity to have him killed arose.

I'd like to weigh in here. I think that Michael hadn't made up his mind about what to do with his brother until after their talk. I think he believed that Fredo was "weak and stupid" and was probably misled. After hearing from Fredo's own mouth how truly discontent and angry he was about being "passed over" is, IMHO, when Michael decided that Fredo had to go. I think that is when he realized that Fredo's betrayal couldn't be forgiven or forgotten. Fredo's anger left Michael vulnerable to another betrayal, and that's what Michael couldn't risk. Then, he slowly bided his time until he had the perfect opportunity to kill him.

Nicely put, SB. I agree that Mike hadn't made up his mind (about killing Fredo) until after their "talk" in the boathouse.

So that "kiss" that Michael planted on Fredo wasn't the kiss of death? Or is there such a thing? What did that kiss signify?

Good question, Beth.

That certainly wasn't a brotherly love kiss, but I'm not quite sure it was a "kiss of death". Much like the situation with Mike killing Carlo, I believe Mike needed "proof" beyond doubt that Fredo was involved in the hit attempt. By Fredo admitting his role, he signed his own death warrant.

Yes, Mike realized Fredo was involved when Fredo "slipped" and said he had been to Cuba before with Johnny Ola, and Mike realized it, but IMO Mike was not prepared to kill Fredo at that time. I can't really back that up with fact... its just a gut feeling.

Here's a full thread of answers for you.

I always found that kiss at the Havana party so strange. Why does Michael kiss Fredo in this way? does anyone know who came up with this idea (FFC, Puzo, etc.) and what significance its supposed to have exactly?

That was is New Year kiss

Actually, that kiss is/was not all that uncommon amongst Italian men. I remember seeing my grandparents, uncles and friends of the family kissing each other like that. It usually was over some big emotional occasion, either a wedding, birth of a baby, death, etc. There was no stigma associated to that kind of kiss between an Italian man and another Italian man who was either a relative or very, very close. I can't speak for other Italian groups or families, but that is how my family and friends of our family acted sometimes.

~~ Lolly

I always figured that it was the moment Fredo explodes with rage about having been passed over. I even think you can place it to the exchange - and here I may paraphrase

Michael - that's the way Pop wanted it

Fredo - Well, it ain't the way I wanted it.

In that one exchange Fredo isn't just challenging Michael's right to rule, he's challenging Vito's. Thus, Fredo demonstrates that he has a dangerous ambition that surpasses common sense and the laws of respect for both Dons.

And that if he's got enough anger to do that, he might well do it again. I doubt Fredo ever realised he'd done it, I doubt it was a concious thought, just a moment of uncontrolled anger that revealed his unconcious desires and frustrations that would continue to fester below the surface.

warmest regards

dave

It might be not only that thing. Remember that when Fredo says at first,
"I didn't know it was gonna be a hit Mike, I swear to god I didn't know it was going to be a hit. Johnny Ola bumped into me in Beverly Hills, he said that he wanted to talk ,he said that you and Roth were in on a big deal together... And if they could get a little help and close the deal fast it'd be good for the family."
After that Michael asks only:"You believed that story!"
But Fredo, what an idiot, finds it necessary to draw his attention to one more point. He says:
"He said there was something in it for me, on my own. "
That he, in fact, sold his brother for money, or anyway for his own interests. If he thought he was acting for the good of the family, that might be some excuse in Michael's eyes, but after he said THAT...
And of course all he said after did not help him at all .
Why didn't Vito teach him to keep his mouth shut?

Realistically: Can we actually believe Fredo when he said, "I swear to God, Mike, I didn't know it was gonna be a hit"? What did he open the curtains for--so Johnny Ola could peep at Kay getting undressed?

Sure, we cannot. But if he was clever enough to say that, he had to think a bit and not betray his own interest in this affair so stupidly.

Imagine - Fredo pimping out his sister-in-law for Johnny Ola! I bet he's get more than an orange for doing it!!

i dont think so.Calo and Fredo.They r different.
we see,another theme of GF is love,love the whole family.whatever,Fredo is mikey's brother,a real brother,no matter what happens,nobody can change it,it's a fact!but calo is different,his name is not Corleone.so he's not a member of this family,he's just an enemy.
And in GF3,we heard mike said"i ordered my brother's death,i killed my mother's son,i killed my father's son".he still think Fredo is his brother,not an enemy.so "keep your enemy closer"is not for Fredo.IMO

I do.

I base my belief on

1) Fredo's behavior earlier in the day at the party. He didn't seem to be acting like someone who knew that he was about to be responsible for the assassination of his brother.

2) The emotion Fredo displays when he tells Michael that he didn't know it was gonna be a hit.

3) The alternate script, in which Fredo was led to believe it would be a kidnapping.

And the kidnapping was, to be sure, the exact thing that would please Michael at that moment. A good idea and great fun, why not?