Originally Posted By: Lilo
It's never spelled out in the novel or film. That's more ominous in a way because it shows that the Don's reach is much further than anyone (including the viewer) realizes.


Right, Lilo! The novel never mentions Luca in connection with the horse decapitation. It says that the Don called Hagen in and gave him instructions. Hagen was "dazed with admiration" over the Don's plan. "There was no question...that Woltz would call him this morning [emphasis added] with the news that Johnny Fontaine had the starring role..." That line tells me that Luca could not have been dispatched on such short (no jet planes) notice to the West Coast to do the dirty deed himself. Vito evidently told Tom to reach out for Corleone allies in the movie unions to whack the horse. And it's a harbinger of things to come in the novel (i.e., Vito's influence over Johnny getting the Oscar for that film).


Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu,
E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu...
E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu
Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.