Originally posted by dontomasso:
Mamma was anything but clueless. She was just "old school Sicialian." She knew better than to be nagging at Vito all the time (unlike a certain bitchy daughter in law from New Hampshire who came along later). When he was out of work and broke, he brings her all he can afford, and she says, "what a nice pear." When Connie shows up with Merle, she scolds her and tells her to "see her family" and then wait in line for Mike "like everyone else."

She knew what Vito did, and why he did it, and she accepted it. She was plenty "wise" and used that wisdom when it was appropriate.

One thing I've also noticed is that the adult Fredo and his mother never have a scene together except when she is dead! The only hint we have to their relationship is when Fredo tells Michael that she'd told him he'd been left by gypsies. God knows, that must have further deepened his insecurity as the middle son. And does anyone think that the pneumonia he suffered as an infant contributed to his mental "slowness"? I mean, he was attended by some neighborhood woman who was using some old country methods on him. Who knows if it really was pneumonia? She was no dcotor!

I have always thought that the pneumonia was related to his later difficulties.

I think the posts make many good points. There is however one angle that may have been overlooked. That is Mama C's physical appearance. The woman was morbidly obese and as far as we can tell she had no marketable skills. If she lost Mr.Don her prospects were bleak. Of course she may of had true affection for a serial killer but she may also have smart enough to know to keep her mouth shut and go for the ride.

I gotta go with the folks that said she knew her place and trusted her husband. I have absolutely nothing to base this on, but I think she told Vito her thoughts and/or concerns - she was just smart enough to do it privately.

She was of another generation and of another culture. Of course she knew. She knew when Vito was broke and could only afford a pear that she should compliment him. She knkew their sudden rise to wealth and power was not exactly on the up and up. When Sonny tells her about Vito being shot in the deleted Saga scene, she very cooly announces she is going to go change her clothes in case she can go to see him. also in the Saga Sonny mentions that she has been through this (Vito being hit) before.


I agree that she laid down the nobusiness at the table rule, as well as the "don't interfere"rule.