Did Paulie know he was about to get whacked when he went with Rocco and Clemenza to check out some "gooda spots on the west side".

I think he did. His suspicious look and the way he said, "Hey Rocco, sit on the other side. You block the rear view mirror." Show that he knew something was up.

Plus, after the failed hit on Vito, Paulie must have known he was a prime suspect. Note the way Sonny was being overly nice to him. Paulie must have felt that he was under scrutiny.

Hahaha.Please dont tell me your serious.No of course he didnt know.The thread about Fredo is a serious discussion,this can never hope to be that.Did Mike know,did Vito,did Sonny,did Vito's Ma and Paolo? Please lets not get into that, it takes away from the legitimacy of the Fredo one.

Paulie certainly would have been suspicious and on his guard following the failed hit. Unless he was brain-dead, he'd have to know that he was a suspect--after all, he was Vito's bodyguard and he called in sick on the day of the hit. That would account for his cautiousness about Rocco.
But I doubt that he knew he was gonna be whacked. If he did, he never would have shown up at Clemenza's house that day. And he stuck around until the bitter end (so to speak) because Clemenza tricked him by letting him know information about "going to the mattresses" that would have been useful to Sollozzo and/or Tattaglia.

You have got to be kidding me, the Freddo discussion in my opinion is just legitimate as this one, I think Paulie had more supicions than Fredo did so its a bit stupid saying this thread is 'taking' away the legitimacy of the other thread.

Yes it certainly isnt a stupid suggestion that Gatto may have suspected, especially when he asks Rocco to shove over, but he couldnt hide because that would be tantamount to admitting he was with Barzini.

As TB mentions, Paulie was probably suspicious, but didn't know for sure. We have to remember that Rocco was a fairly new guy in the family. Beside being cautious, Paulie could have also been exercising his muscle a little; showing he was in control by asking Rocco to move over.

In previous discussions on the board we have talked about the ego and greed of the criminal mind. They think they can't get caught and they always want more. Most likely Paulie thought he was "expertly" playing both sides of the fence. Taking Clemenza to look for gooda spots would have been primo info to bring back to Barzini.

And the authoratative nature of Clemenza 'why you gotta know now, just drive the car' would have put Paulie at ease a little, (The book tells us that Clemenza was really nervous about the whole thing as he knew he had to make it look good)

Paulie absolutely knew, it's obvious in the way he immediately complied when asked by Clemenza to pull over.

In fact, he realized the moment that Rocco got in the car that his betrayal of the Don had been discovered. Paulie wasn't the brightest bulb in the world, but he was no moron either. He knew how the 'mob world' worked and knew how Sonny thought. This was it, there was no escaping and he was tired of running.

So Paulie cheerfully complied by driving Clemenza & Rocco all over New York, joking and chatting with them, then quietly awaiting the end while Clemenza took his leak.

Legend has it that he was reciting the Hail Mary just before the end...but since the car windows were up this couldn't be heard by the audience.

Best,
Apple

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT!!!!!!!!

They say there is a new virus going around. I think it has hit the board.

I know this is most likely a whole other thread, but I think Fannucci knew Vito was gonna kill him too. He too was reciting the Hail Mary under his breath as he bravely entered the hallway to his apartment, accepting his impending doom. Didn't anyone else notice?

Sorry, couldn't resist.


TIS

Hey, who knew that Vito Blew?

Now you all know too!

Hey, TIS...I think you're right !!

No wonder he pinned $$$ to the statue before heading home...probably making peace with the Lord before bravely facing his end.

He even kindly ripped opened his shirt & jacket, giving Vito's bullet a better chance of breaking through to the flesh; so what if his timing was off and he did it AFTER the shot. It's the thought that counts!!

Must admit I never did notice Fanucci reciting the Hail Mary...but only because he did it in Italian.

Apple

The hail mary scene to which you are referring to IS a beautiful scene

Apple I was wondering when you were going to show up!
Ever considered getting into Stand Up comedy?
Paulie didnt know because he believed he had been forgiven by Sonny when he was offered the drink.Some of us here are giving a character way too much credit than he deserves.

Best,
DSC

but this board would have us believe that everyone except michael or vito corleone doesnt have one brain cell between them, i say had an inkling otherwise what was the point of the shove over line

Speaking of which...does anyone think Tessio really KNEW he was about to be killed when he got in that car after telling Tom to tell Mike that '...it was only business...'???

For a guy who was about to die, I think Sal was a bit too calm. Perhaps he was under the impression they were going to put him on a plane to Vegas, or turn him over to the cops. Also, after we hear those 4 car doors close...do we know if he said some kind of prayer or somehing?
I think not.

I bet Tessio didn't know.

Apple

Tessio definitely knew that he was a dead man. Why would he ask Tom to get him "off the hook?" Why else would he say, "Tell Mike it was only business - I always liked him."

Tessio was calm because he knew that there was no way out - look at all the buttonmen around him. It wasn't as if Tessio could run away. He took his medicine like a man.

Yep Tessio was a mans man, that look of defeat (beaufifully acted by Abe Vigoda) spelt the end and he knew it, my fave scene in the Godfather Trilogy

How do you guys think they killed Tessio?

They stuck a garden hose down his throat and turned it on until he drowned!

took him out a field somewhere like Paulie, and shot him, i doubt they would have humilated him

Apple On Ya

.....and this year's award for "Best Post-Dripping-with-Sarcasm" goes to.......APPLE ON YOU!

I'm sure Tessio thought he was going his retirement luncheon.

They may have forced him to read this thread, eyes pried open with steel toothpicks.

Then, he slowly and methodically laughed himself to death.

Apple

Is that supposed to be funny? Sorry if the question was not mentally stimulating enough for you to give a serious response. It definitely pales in comparison to the profundity of "did Fredo know?"

No, it really wasn't supposed to be funny at all. Sorry if you're not mentally stimulated enough to not be able to figure out how Tessio was killed without asking everybody else.

How the hell do you THINK they killed him????

Like fathersson says - they got out that hose and .....

Apple

LOL... like shooting fish in a barrel...

My next project : A chronoligical list of every murder that takes place in the Godfather Trilogy, and whether or not the person knew.

Of course you're right. I'm so ashamed of myself. I should learn never to doubt appleonya or fathersson. Thank you for showing me the light.

Tessio was eliminated off-camera by Willi Cicci

how do you know Cicci killed him?