In the "favorite part of the trilogy" topic, somebody mentioned the scene where Fredo goes into Vito's room after they bring him home from the hospital and sits by the window. Vito sort of looks away with an expression of sadness/anger on his face. I always thought Vito was just depressed in that scene because Michael had killed Sollozzo and McCluskey. However, the person who chose that scene as one of their favorites said that Vito looked away from Fredo, possibly in disgust or disappointment.

After reviewing the scene, I am no longer sure. Was Vito showing his disappointment with Fredo for failing to protect him from the gunmen, or was he still upset over the news about Mike?

Edit: it was Don Sonny Corleone who made the post i was referring to, and while he didn't say outright that vito was looking away from fredo in disappointment, that was the impression i got.

It is rather easy to see. He even says it later. He never wanted Michael in this type of business. Hearing that it was Michal has him depressed. Nothing more.

I think the look Vito gives Fredo is just the realization that Fredo is never going to be able to make it in the "family business" ...he was always going to need protection and looking after, and would become a drag on the family and probably endanger them in the long run.

Vito alludes to this later when talking to Michael in the garden, shortly before his death, in the "Michael, I never wanted this for you..." speech, where Vito just says, "And Fredo, well, uh, you know..."

I agree with Enzo. Vito has always known Fredo wasnt cut out for that business and now he knows that he will absolutely never be anything useful.Fredo almost cost him his life there, and though he loves his son, he is disappointed.

I believe that scene we speak of is mostly about Michael and Vito. It could also mean that Vito was aware of Fredo's failure. I say it's mostly about Michael, as Vito sighs knowing what has happened now and probably thinks of Michael hiding in Sicily, a land he finds dnagerous full of threats for his son. He can't believe it has come to this, and also I would say the transition from America to Michael in Sicily also suggests the fathers concern for his son. Vito wouldn't have broken down Fredo anymore, as he knows Fredo's weak and doesn't expect much from him, yet he loves his son and could't bear to cause more guilth in him than fredo already feels.

Of course Vito's not going to grind Fredo for not defending him, but he is just as disappointed in Fredo as Fredo is in himself. I think by that scene his grief for Michael does not come into play.

I do not think that Vito resented Fredo. I believe that he loved his son as only a father could love a son, DESPITE his shortcomings. I think he always realized what Fredo was, which is why he always had unimportant jobs like being the chauffeur. He really wasn't even supposed to be guarding his father; Paulie was. I feel that his sadness has nothing to do with his feelings for Fredo, but more his regret for Michael, as has been said here. As a matter of fact, I think he's happy that Fredo will be learning a new trade by going to Vegas. I'm sure he hoped it could be something that Fredo's good at.

Vito loved all of his sons, but Fredo certainly disappointed Vito at times. I would add that, in the novel, there is a meeting between Vito, Tom, and the caporegimes after the "sitdown." At the sitdown, Vito converses with Molanari (or Franchesca?) Family to thank them for protecting Fredo in Vegas. Vito is discouraged to learn that Fredo has become a ladies man. This placed Fredo into tremendous disfavor with the Don, who made no effort to hide the displeasure in front of Hagen & the caporegimes.

I also agree that vito wouldn't want fredo to take to much responsibility in family business as he was weak minded.That why i suppose micheal sent him to vages.

It was Sonny, not Michael, who sent Fredo to Vegas.

I have to agree with Sicilian Babe. Vito was
a loving father who was able to see all his son's
strengths and weaknesses abd accept them. He was the type who would have taken a philosphical attitude about Fredo's lack of strength, and make it his job to shield him from harm. He may have even loved Fredo more precisely because he had an innocent, childlike quality.