My apologies if this topic has already been discussed ad nauseum. But that wouldn't be the first time something like that's happened here, right?

Connie and Carlo's baby played by Sofia C. is baptized while elsewhere all hell is breaking loose: in his bloody yet efficient manner Mike is wrapping up family business and consolidating his nefarious empire, in stark contrast to the words he's uttered in reply to Fr. Carmello's questions during the sacrement of baptism.

Mike tells Carlo to forget about the Vegas trip and to await his instructions back at the compound. When he joins him there later, Mike interrupts Carlo on the phone.

Carlo looks a little stressed out.

Who was he calling? One of his whores? Or was he still so connected that he was calling one of Barzini's people?

Or is he even making a call, as opposed to taking one? Is it a case of someone trying to give him a heads up?

I mean, when he hangs up that phone, the look on his face . . . .

Grazi,

Hollywood

If the scene was shown as written in the novel, perhaps that's where it's revealed with whom Carlo may have been on the phone (or in the process of calling).

If not...then there's really no solid answer and perhaps it was simply staged that way so that Carlo would be seen actually doing something, as opposed to just sitting there waiting for Michael.

Also the phone call - and isn't there a game of solitaire on the table too? - suggests that Carlo has been kept waiting for quite a while and perhaps he was getting a little bored.

And by the way...to me Carlo never appeared to be 'stressed out' when he turns to see Michael enter the room. Anxious maybe, but not stressed out - until Michael corners him.

Could be though, I'll have to take a closer look at his face next viewing.

Apple

Now, I have not read the book, maybe it goes into greater detail - but I always thought he was calling his "other" connection, Barzinni or other family member. I guess I ASSUMED he was telling them, something's up, Mike's not sending me to Vegas. That's what I thought. His face when Mike walks in is almost as if he's seen a ghost, like he was "caught in the act".
Anyway, that's a good scene, I just hate the part where Michael comes in and says, "AWHHHHH, you can't fool a Corleone" - like he has to be so dramatic- it seems out of character for him to show emotion. Sorry to get off the track!

If Carlo thought something was 'up'...it might have shown in his face at the church when Michael first informed him of the change of plans. Instead, he took it calmly and (in my view) somewhat self-assuredly, even quieting Connie down when she began to protest.

By this time it looks like Carlo believes his position within the Family is well established.
It would be difficult to believe that even he would be dumb enough to contact Barzini or any of the other Family Heads from a phone at the Corleone Mall of all places!!

Apple

I'll have to watch it tonight and look for the cards on the table, as well as to confirm my thought that he did indeed look like he'd seen a ghost. He even puts it down reluctantly, if I'm not mistaken. Of course, this could be an instant reaction to something he's read in Mike's offscreen expression.

All of which would make me think this call has something to do with his fate. As for Carlo's intelligence, this is the same guy who freely gave his home phone number, the one he shared with his wife, the daughter of Don Vito Corleone, to the whores he passed time with. Not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Thanks for your insight.

The call itself had NOTHING to do with his fate. Michael's intent was to have him killed from before he even walked into the room.

Giving your home # to whores is a little different than contacting a rival Family from a phone in The Don's own compound
. I still don't think Carlo would've been that stupid...nor do I think he even had contact with Barzini or any other Family Head at this point.

As for his wife answering the phone, that was part of the plan for the setup for Sonny.
Personally I don't think Carlo cared whether Connie knew he had whores or not. In fact, she give the impression that she had put up with that sort of stuff (in addition to the beatings) for quite a while.

Apple

I'm going with Apple on this one - good point.
I'm going with the idea he probably felt comfortable knowing he was "in " the family.
Why would he think they would hurt him,on the contrary, MIchael is Godfather to his son.
Michael said he'd call him later, so maybe Carlo was checking the phone to make sure it was working?, you know in case he missed the call? (okay, yeah dumb I know- hehe)

Or...maybe he was calling one of his Vegas 'whores' to let her know he had to meet with the boss & would be coming out on a later plane!

Apple

Oh, I agree, Carlo's fate was sealed long before Mike saw him with the phone in his hand. I should have been clearer: I think the chances are pretty good the phone call was with someone on the other end who was telling Carlo that the poop was really hitting the fan. And that he recognized his fate was tied with theirs.

But then again, he's shocked when Mike says Barzini and the rest are dead. Like it's news to him.

Bears careful watching.

Exactly.

I don't think Carlo had any idea what was about to happen, and I don't think the phone call ties in to any of it.

Besides...Michael's men had just gotten finished wiping out the Heads of all the rival Families. Who on earth would have the time or concern to be conversing with Carlo Rizzi?!?!

Apple

In the novel, he was talking to his "mistress", although he had hung up and decided to save time by getting dressed to go see her before Michael's arrival.

I remember Turnbull saying he was calling his mistress now that he had lost the trip with his wife to Vegas

Did Carlo know? Yes when Michael told him that he couldnt got to Vegas, he knew. He quieted Connie so she wouldnt suspect anything, and went to the house becuase he knew death would be coming and he accepted it. He didnt want to run off screaming and make the other buttonmen think he was a sissy.

I believe that Carlo's business with Barzini was finished when Sonny was killed. Each got what he wanted; and Carlo, apparently given a position of prominence in the family when Michael took over, didn't need Barzini anymore. So, I go with Carlo on the phone with his mistress, as it said in the novel. And, as Apple pointed out earlier, it gave the scene some life to have him on the phone, instead of reading, or cracking his knuckles while waiting for Michael.

I watched that scene last night - he was actually making a call- probably to his girlfriend -