Ditto!

Like many others here, I never saw Frankie Five Angels as being stupid. Coarse, perhaps, and without the veneer of the graceful (yet hypocritical) socialite, for sure. But he wasn't really stupid.

He was the successor to Clemenza, and truly stupid people do not make it to the level of caporegime. He was a street guy, yes, and he probably even felt a certain degree of disdain for those who pretend to be somehow "better" than a street soldier. I have known men who shunned the pretensions of self-styled intellectuals and socialites altogether and who knew that this was what they were doing. They did so intentionally, sometimes to hide their true shrewdness behind a clumsy facade-- and at other times in an effort to stage a subtle rebellion against others whom they saw as phonies.

I think that he was cut from the same bolt of cloth as his former boss, and that his true strength was of a more tactical, less strategic, sort of outlook. He himself told Michael, "I don't -- look -- I don't have your brain -- uh -- for big deals -- but this is a street thing." But then he shows a great deal of insight and awareness by following this declaration up with the statement, "That Hyman Roth in Miami -- he's backing up those son of a bitches."

I would respectfully submit that these are not the words of some ignorant buffoon. Frankie was razor-sharp, and never mind his rough-hewn mannerisms. As far as the canapes question is concerned, I think he was just making a very clever and extremely funny joke... a wonderful play on words.

He probably knew all about the Romans because the subject interested him and because it was a matter of pride and heritage to him. He might have faltered if you asked him a question about Kafka (while the likes of Crazy Joe Gallo could have remarked intelligently about this subject, which apparently interested him), but no, Frankie was no fool.

For sure, Frankie could have a guy killed with relative ease. Look at how old he was before he was ever nailed on anything substantial-- and only after being the primary informant against himself-- yet, we know for sure that he was a killer and a really tough old bird who had been operating for years.

I always liked Frankie and Pete Clemeza better than even Vito Corleone, and way better than I ever liked Michael. Their ambitions might not have been so lofty, but they were more true to their original code.

Near the end of his life, Vito rambled to Michael about not being subject to the whims of "those big shots", while apparently overlooking the fact that he was himself a big shot. But Vito and Michael seemed to need something more than just the honor (and loot) they received by being a part of their regime. They aspired towards political power and a sort of overlordship that I don't think Clememza or Frankie were ever interested in.

All of which is to say, in answer to dontomasso's original question:

I think that Frankie was indeed the shrewd underboss we saw at the end. And I think he was also a shrewd underboss at the very beginning of the movie too... we just didn't have a chance to understand this about him yet because he hadn't been fully developed as a character at that point in the film.

Those canopies and Frankies reference to them and peppers and sauseege was a symbolism of sorts.

I think that it was inserted in the script by FFC to symbolize the conversion Michael had made between GF and GFII, and at the same time how an old timer like Frankie did not embrace this "new, modern" style that Michael had chosen.

That line was another way of showing us how Michael was looking to rid himself of the "old world" illegitimacy back east and forge ahead towards legitimacy by injecting himself into a higher society.

I never really considered this before, Don Cardi, but now that you've brought it to my attention I think I would have to agree!

Thanks for the insight!

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

I thought that perhaps Michael brought Frankie's brother in to threaten him at first, but then after reading The Godfather and The Sicilian novels I thought maybe Michael brought Frankie's brother in to shame him into not testifying against Michael and breaking Omerta. Recall the look between the two brothers at the hearing. To me, Frankie's brother looks absolutely shocked at what Frankie is about to do. Remember how old school Sicilian Frankie's brother is and in The Sicilian, they say that breaking Omerta "the code of silence" which includes ratting out other mafia guys, is something you absolutely do not do. Supposedly, your own family would have to help hunt you down for breaking Omerta.

Yes, shame, a minimalist approach that would leave nothing but memories in its wake. But, what if shame didn't work? Was Michael going to say "Darn, I thought that would keep him from testifying. Shucks, now what are we going to do?" Frankie got the shame message, but he also got the "I know who and where your brother" is message. Remember, Vito Genovese had a guy murdered because he wanted to that guy's wife. Rules do get broken especially when it is the Don's butt on the line.

Frankie was 'street smart'. As other have said, an 'old timer' in his way of thinking and fighting. He admitted he didn't have Michael's (or Roth's) head for 'big deals'. That was what lead to his downfall.

But yes, as he proves in the end by the way he accepts and in effect takes charge of his fate, as well as the future of his family...he was most certainly in the general configuration of things...smart.

Apple

Frank had his own family so he couldn't have been too dumb. Paulie...now he was stupid. I think Frank is awesome and Wallach is an excellent actor. He was nominated for awards for this small role.

I think that case has been pretty well made by the posters above that Frankie had street smarts. In his role as family Don, he didn't necessarily have to exhibit strategic thinking.

The negative comments about Wallach are also not necessarily about his performance. It's just that I and others don't picture about him as a mob guy. The closest he came to such a role in the past, I believe, was as the head of forty Mexican bandits in The Magnificent Seven.

100% agree I love Frankie!
Go to the thread "The Scene That Always Chokes Me Up" I posted the Senate Committie

Watching the Saga over this weekend, I finally saw the back story of why Frankie was drinking water from a hose. When a waiter approached him with a "champagne cocktail," Frankie asked if there was any red wine or beer because his throat was "parched." Thats when Cicci got the hose.

Another great Frankie scene is when he comes home and gets the news that Michael has been waiting there for a half an hour. Quickly he takes off his overcoat and just before he goes into see Michael he slicks his hair back with his hands....great gesture.

Yeah, I love that one too!...Slicks his hair back with his hands! What a excellent character he portrayed in the film.
It is a shame there was not more of Frankie in the film, more of a story of how he entered the family!
I just love Frankie Five Angels