As part of his overall plan, Sollozzo got rid of Luca, right? Quite a formidable challenge. Then he snatches Tom. While not a formidable a challenge, definitely a serious and consequential action. He also arranges for Paulie to betray the family so that he can hit Vito. So, with all that discreet and minute planning, why is it then that the hit on Vito is handled almost as an option? As the novel says, Vito was about to get into the car to drive home until he decided to buy some fruit. It wasn't until he was well into doing so when the hit men turned the corner and attacked him. What would have happened had Vito just gotten into the car and had Fredo driven off?

I always said that if Sollozo had known just how vulnerable Vito was and how helpless Fredo was that he could have knifed him in broad daylight. There were probably several different possible times to assassinate him. We see the one that actually went through, might have been other times that were called off until more favorable circumstances arose.

why are we in the novel forum?

You would have to ask the hitmen if they had a 'Plan B'. Like maybe to trap them at a toll booth on the causeway.



Anyhow, was written/staged that way for a reason. Vito gets shot an on with the story...

AppleOnYa

I also wondered what happens if Vito does not send Luca to meet with the Tattaglias? How would they have gotten to him and could that have tipped off Vito?

Then he sends Fredo.

Maybe that would've been a good idea, come to think of it. Give Fredo more to do than pick somebody up at the airport.

He could handle things, he was smart. Not dumb like everybody says.

Fredo would NEVER have fallen for that trap set by Solozzo & Tattaglia.

Pre-war scotch...yeah, RIGHT!! He would've DEMANDED a banana daquiri and nothing less.

You just don't mess with Fredo Corleone.

Apple

In one of the deleted scenes Fredo says "I'm smart. I can pick out good oranges, not like everybody says."

Oranges they have a simbolic meaning for sicilians because they remember them to SICILY.
Sicily is one of the bigest fruit producting islant bacause of mediteran climate!
I think that you have seen this part of site but it is good to remember you :
http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.com/godfather.html