We get that Frank Pentangelli turns informer because he thinks Michael betrayed him and probably feels he's a dead man either way - Moe Greene wants him dead, so does Mike, so who else is he going to turn to?

But what about Willi Cicci? He was one of Michael's inner circle guys, at least at the end of GF I, I mean he was trusted enough with whacking a Five Families boss. He was part of Sonny's crew and seemed line one of his main guys as well (In almost scene where Sonny is Acting Boss, Willi is with him as both bodyguard and enforcer)...His turning witness was surprising.

I do wonder what became of Cicci though. Do we think he got whacked?

Yes, but Cicci had information that could have taken Michael down for good. He was involved in the murders of the heads of the 5 families and could/would have pointed the finger directly at Michael. He was also involved in the murder of Tessio. He had more than enough information to warrant a death sentence.

For what it's worth, Cicci returned as a character in an earlier draft of the screenplay of Part III. He was only replaced by Joey Zasa when actor Joe Spinell died. So according to Coppola and Puzo, Cicci was apparantly forgiven and even promoted after his betrayal, and would turn against Michael yet again in Part III.

They probably didn't given much thought to it, or perhaps they intended to replace him anyway in a newer draft.

The problem with III is that they didn't give much thought to the whole damned script. Period.

Exactly!

Good question. There was no witness protection program at the time. I doubt that Cicci was important enough to merit 24/7 protection that Pentangeli was promised. They'd probably put him in prison for a reduced sentence in return for his cooperation, and perhaps in an administrative segregation unit. But Michael would find a way to get him if he wanted to.


Would he? Michael had two reasons to whack Pentangeli. First, Pentangeli knew enough about him, firsthand, to be a danger to him down the road, even if he was no longer a credible witness against Michael. The FBI would keep pumping him for info they could use against Michael. Second, he had to show enemies and potential enemies that no one ever gets a pass from Michael Corleone, no matter how "securely" they're being held. I'm not sure either would apply to Cicci.

We get that Frank Pentangelli turns informer because he thinks Michael betrayed him and probably feels he's a dead man either way - Moe Greene wants him dead, so does Mike, so who else is he going to turn to?

But what about Willi Cicci? He was one of Michael's inner circle guys, at least at the end of GF I, I mean he was trusted enough with whacking a Five Families boss. He was part of Sonny's crew and seemed line one of his main guys as well (In almost scene where Sonny is Acting Boss, Willi is with him as both bodyguard and enforcer)...His turning witness was surprising.