Vito tells Luca that he's a little worried about this Sollozzo fella. Okay, take his statement for what it's worth. But my point has been that it was unrealistic for Vito to expect that anyone on the other side was going to believe for a minute that Luca was dissatisfied being on Vito's team. In the novel, Luca tells Sollozzo that he would never go against the Vito. Still, I'm not buying it. The other side of Luca never going against Vito was Luca never failing to go for Vito. Vito was too intelligent to think that anyone would be fooled by Luca's charade and he surely should have realized that his enemies could have eliminated Luca at any time which would significantly impugn Vito's ability to defend the family.

So why then would he send Luca on a suicide mission?

it makes no sense. Vito didn't know Luca would be killed. He just didn't. there's no way. If he knows this... what is his incentive??? He has none. No gain. Only the loss of his best and most valuable soldier.

Right but remember the war only starts when Sonny strikes Bruno Tattaglia. Sollozo did not intend on having a war, he intended on assassinating Vito to place Sonny on the throne.

Vito would prefer to avoid the war by avoiding his own assassination. If Vito can avoid being hit, then there will be no war. Tattaglia could not outfight Vito, and if Barzini jumps in to fight an unprovoked war then Vito would have the support of the other five families. Unfortunately, Sollozo(this outsider) did get to him, and THEN Santino starts the war.

Again Frank, the only way Sollozo can win is to assassinate Vito. He can't win a war against him.

With Luca's killing, Vito would know that his assassination would be next on Sollozo's list. If he could avoid this, then any 'war' that Sollozo might want to start would be a futile attempt.

EDIT--Of course, Sollozo plays it perfectly and gets them both on the same day. Before Vito can find out that Luca has been hit(thus knowing a hit on himself is coming) Sollozo gets him too.

I guess my point is that I think that both Puzo and FFC erred in writng and illustrating the Luca scenario we are discussing for the reasons I've given. Also, sending Luca was a error by Vito; it was foolish for him to have done so given everyone's knowledge of Luca's devotion to Vito and also for not realizing that Luca COULD get killed in the process.

Barzini and company probably knew that 'straight laced' Vito would not go for the plan or anything else that Tattaglia had his prints on. Vito might have even seen it as obvious false attempt, after all, who would ever think Vito would go in w/ Tattaglia? So, Vito may have already had suspicions that he might be an assassination target when the Turk first calls on him. So.....Santino's display of dissention put the Don in a GREAT bind!!! Vito may have already been a marked man from the beginning. With Sonny's slip he is in REAL TROUBLE!!!( A world of sh*t!)

So..... he dispatches Luca. If Sollozo has plans on whacking Vito he could not and would not resist the temptation to whack Luca. This whacking of Luca would tell the don to take cover.

Keep in mind that Tattaglia/Sollozo could have never dreamed of a war against the Corleones muscle. Barzini's involvement would only serve to worsen the situation b/c this is an unprovoked conflict. The other families would support the Corleones in order to avoid a long, destructive war.

Sooo...the Turk's hit on Vito was ESSENTIAL and had 2 possible objectives.

1.) Vito is killed and Sonny takes the deal.

2.)Vito is killed and hot head Sonny strikes back at the Tattaglias. Thus, starting a war that the others would support the Tattaglias in in order to avoid a long, destructive war.

(The Turks hit on Vito would be overlooked b/c he is an outsider, Tattaglia would not be held responsible. But Sonny's hit on Bruno Tattaglia would not be overlooked, and Sonny would be held responsible.)

Today at 05:36


Very Interesting observation here Ice. Sounds very similar to a post that I made about 5 minutes before yours. I guess that great minds think alike, huh?


Today at 05:30 PM






Don Cardi

I think it is possible that Luca was taken out because Tattaglia was insulted that Luca wouldn't drink bicardi.

Or I've been cheating off my neighbor's paper again!

Key word being "again."



Don Cardi

Oops I can't believe I pulled a Fredo!!
But yeah, its all about the cut and paste DC, you know that.