why did Pentangeli have to commit suicide???

the hit on Pentangeli was setup by Roth/Rosatto brothers, but because of the misunderstanding, he thought it was Michael. well, he didn't testify against Michael, since they brought Pentangeli's brother to the hearing.

isn't understandable that Pentangeli went against Michael because he thought Michael was the one who tried to murder him?? once it was settled that this was not the case, couldn't they have come to some mutual agreement so Pentangeli didn't have to kill himself???

It was too late for any reconciliation. Frankie 5-Angels broke the vows of omerta. It was all about honor now.

Welcome to the boards, proverbs.

He didn't have to commit suicide. His bargain with Tom was that his family would be taken care of in exchange for his suicide.

Yes, and if he hadn't comitted suicide, his family probably would have been taken care of in another way!

Frankie was old school. He knew that he had betrayed The Family. Suicide was simply the honorable thing to do, and also the only way to make sure that there was no retribution for his actions.

I've inferred from your's and Danito's posts that you think that Frankie's family would have been harmed if he didn't commit suicide. I don't think that there is much if any support for that thought. Traditionally, families of wiseguys were off-limits. The penalty he would pay for not committing suicide would be that his family wuld not be financially taken care of.

The whole idea of the suicide was Frankie's way to restore his honor. By doing this he would be viewed as having died for the family and the Family would make sure his widow and children etc would be taken care of .

Olivant, I agree and disagree. I, too, don't think that any harm would have come to Frankie's wife or the daughter that we see in the scene at the mall, and that it's their financial well-being that is discussed. However, even though it was "between the brothers", I've always thought that Vincenzo Pentangeli might not be as safe from harm. I believe that's why Frankie brings his brother up in his conversation with Tom.

Well the committee was going to "look into this and see what the hell happened here"

So, Michael wanted the door slammed shut. Frankie alive leaves the door open in a way.

Well, again, you and Danito seemed to imply physical harm in lieu of Frankie's suicide. On the other hand, although Frankie's brother might have thought of it all as a matter of honor, I think that Michael's reason for bringing Frankie's brother to the hearing was definitely to have Frankie understand that something bad was going to happen to his brother if Frankie testified against Michael.

Yes. Frankie's credibility was shot to hell at that time, but the government wouldn't have given up on Michael. As long as Frankie was alive, there might have been some way the government could have used him against Michael.
So, I'm guessing, the proposition from Michael to Frankie (via Tom) went something like this: "You haven't got any life ahead of you--you're gonna be a prisoner for the rest of your life. Your family will wither without you. Do the honorable thing and your family will be taken care of. If not, you'll be the instrument of their demise." The last word would have had enough threat for Frankie to see reason.

thanks for the replies guys.

i understand that Frankie betrayed the family, but it was because Michael was framed for putting the hit on Frankie. shouldn't have there been an understanding between the two families?

Proverbs, i see where you're going with your reasoning but the thing is, it doesn't matter that he had a misunderstanding of the events. that's, in fact, another reason for the handling of Frankie (he should have saw this coming). At best, Frankie is a stupid, spitefull snitch (for lack of a better term), and that's unacceptable.

Much as Frankie was misled, half dead, etc., it was still his choice to turn rat.

Exactly. Personal responsibility.

ok. i just liked Frankie's character so much, and hated to see him go like that.

He's my favorite character, too, Proverbs. But he made his choice...
FYI, that garotting scene is based on a real-life incident that you might be interested in:

Around 1960, a war broke out between the Gallo brothers (on whom the Rosatos are based) and Joe Profaci, long-time boss of a Brooklyn Mafia family. The Gallos were a faction in the Profaci Family but they had a beef over territories promised to them. As the war dragged on, some Profaci higher-ups offered a "peace feeler" to eldest brother Larry Gallo. He met them in a bar, the Sahara Lounge, in Brooklyn, after hours. There they dragged him to the back and garotted him. A policeman happened by, came in, and broke up the garotting within seconds of Larry's demise. The NY Daily News had an unforgettable p.1 photo of the cops leading Larry away, a red mark across his throat. But Larry never squealed.

well, TB, for what it's worth, i guess Frankie never squeeled either (officially).

He went on record with an affidavit about how he "murdered on Michael Corleone's orders." Yes, he retracted the affidavit under pressure of his brother's appearance, but damage had been done. As long as he lived, the government could have tried to use him in some way against Michael.

hmmm... true

Turnbull's last comment brings up something I always wondered. When they brought Frankie's brother from Palermo and had him show up at the Senate hearing, were they letting Frankie know that if he sang, they were going to kill his brother? Or was it just to let his brother give him that look as if to say "why are you breaking the rules and talking?"

I've posted repeatedly that that is what they wanted Frankie to understand. Some others disagree. But in the world of the Mafia, the possibility of murder does prompt one to tread lightly.

Probably both: to shame Frankie for breaking omerta, and to pose a visible threat. Others here have found earlier script references to Frankie having a family in Sicily (in addition to his brother) who'd be vulnerable if he stood by his affidavit.