Originally posted by DJGodfather:
1. Why did Hymon Roth order the hit on Frankie Pantangelese?
2. Why did Frankie commit suicide in the bathroom?
3. Who wanted the Rosato brothers killed and why? Was it Michael.
4. Did Michael know at first that he wanted Hymon Roth dead? He came to him at first as in a friend.
5. When Michael was set up in his home, was this because of Fredo's ties with Roth?
I have watched the movie a lot but want to make sure and clear things up. Thanks!
1. When Michael met with Roth, he seemed to blame Pentangeli for the attack on his home in Tahoe, and told Roth, "Frank Pentangeli is a dead man." But he didn't kill Pentangeli--instead he sent him to settle his problem with the Rosato brothers. This action told Roth that Michael really didn't think Pentangeli was behind the Tahoe attack--meaning that Michael might have suspected Roth. So Roth ordered the Rosato brothers to kill Pentangeli to prevent Michael and Pentangeli from planning and carrying out retaliation against Roth.
2. Frankie killed himself because, when he and Hagen were discussing the deaths of Roman plotters, Hagen made it clear that if Frankie killed himself as an apology for having betrayed Michael, his family would be provided for by Michael.
3. Only Frankie wanted the Rosato brothers killed because he had a dispute with them over three territories in the Bronx that Clemenza supposedly promised them before he died. At the end, Hagen said to Michael, "Roth and the Rosatos are on the run..." but we only saw Michael take revenge on Roth, not the Rosatos.
4. Michael thought Roth was an ally and a business partner until the Tahoe attack. Then he immediately saw that Roth was behind the attack. But he continued to pretend that he thought Frankie was behind the attack, and that Roth was his friend, to deceive Roth, and to buy time to find out who the traitor was in his family.
5. Most people here believe that Fredo played a significant role in setting up the attack on Michael's bedroom. Many believe that Fredo gave Roth information, and may have opened the drapes over the bedroom windows for the shooters.