There are two lines that I consider together:

Sollozzo: "The Tattaglia family is behind me with all their people."

Vito: "But I didn't know until this day that it was -- Barzini all along...."

If Barzini is "in", but Sollozzo can't say that even after he's killed Luca and thinks he's killed Vito, then you're pretty much assuming that Sollozzo is an idiot. What is he getting for protecting Barzini at that point?

On the other hand, I think both statements make perfect sense if Sollozzo and Tattaglia are both in, but that Barzini, approached for protection or finance, has told them that it's just too big of a change, and that the Corleones must be involved (leaving it to Sol and Tat to bring that about).


"All of these men were good listeners; patient men."