I know this topic hasn't been touched for a month, but I was watching the Saga (again ), and for the first time I noticed something in the Fredo and Deanna arrival scene: Deanna was the one driving.

I know, I know. You all caught that a looong time ago . I don't know why it dawned on me just recently. But it illustrates a point some of you had made about Fredo being somewhat henpecked. It's not the fact that Fredo wasn't driving that denotes this; after all, it's not unusual that the wife may enjoy driving more than the husband, or that spouses take turns at the wheel. It's also possible that the car was a gift from Fredo to Deanna, so she would naturally want to drive it.

What struck me is the fact that Deanna was so obviously drunk, and Fredo allowed her to get behind the wheel of a vehicle in her intoxicated condition . Soon after, we see Fredo chase down Deanna and force her discarded shoe onto her foot. It makes me wonder why he didn't manhandle her the same way beforehand in order to take the car keys away from her. (Then again, maybe that's what he was trying to do throughout the drive, since we do hear Deanna tell him to keep his "greasy hands" off her. )

It certainly appears that if Deanna wants to drive, she's darn well going to drive whether drunk or sober, and no Fredo is going to be able to stop her. Never mind the injury and damage she might have caused along the way. It's a scene prophetic of Fredo's later line in the movie: "I can't control her Mike."

Although Michael tells him he needn't explain, the viewer can infer a small diminution of respect in Michael's eyes. Fredo does not have the sense of control Michael has, nor the mastery of situations. He lets any ostensibly stronger force bulldoze him. It's a statement not only on Fredo's relationship with Deanna, but also on his character in general.

It just goes to show you what we can observe about people just from the way they drive (or don't drive, as the case may be) ...