Danny Aiello said he ad-libbed "Michael Corleone says hello." If so, why didn't FFC cut it out?
I've often speculated that the remark was meant for Richie the bartender. Richie obviously was a civilian ("No, Carmine, not here!"). If the cops got involved, Richie would never rat out the Rosatos. So Tony Rosato fed him a line to give to the cops: "I dunno who these guys were, but one of them said, 'Michael Corleone says hello.' " That'd point the finger at Michael. And, when the newspapers got it, his "legitimate" image would be damaged further.
Well TB, we've never concluded whether or not they meant to murder Frankie or not. That's key. If murder was the intent, then the line (ab-libbed or not) makes no sense. But if it was meant to turn Frankie against Michael, then it makes every bit of sense. I'll have to watch that scene again to see just pysically how it was perfromed before I can conclude nayhting.
