Michael was hot for Roth’s Havana casinos. Even though he knew Roth was behind the Tahoe attack, and was planning to have him killed in Cuba, Michael went to Havana anyway, and had the $2 million brought to him. But, he left Cuba with his $2 million, and no casinos. Cuba doesn’t figure again in GFII. Seemingly, Michael gave up on Cuba.

When do you think Michael gave up on Cuba?
• Right after the Tahoe attack, when he figured out that Roth was the culprit.
• After he saw a rebel kill himself and a captain of the Cuban Army rather than be taken alive.
• During Roth’s birthday party, when Roth promised big chunks of his Havana holdings to others.
• After Batista abdicated on New Year’s Eve.
• Michael never gave up on Cuba.

Your thoughts?

All of the above.

After the attempt on Michael's life, can we ever be sure that Michael had any designs on Cuba? Is it possible that, after the murder attempt, Michael's sole intent was to uncover the mole in his family and to do away with Roth. To be sure, perhaps Michael speculated that Roth's holdings in Cuba would become his once he got rid of Roth, but that speculation did not require any further action by Michael. Perhaps Castro would continue where Batista left off or perhaps he wouldn't. Michael was prepared to act accordingly. Apparently, the Corleones had no investment in Cuba, nothing to lose, and alot to possibly gain once Roth was dead. Prudently, once Michael witnessed the rebel suicide, he was prompted to wait before investing in Cuba.

In the end, Michael could take or leave Cuba.

IMO, Michael never really gave up on Cuba. It was all-important: Getting Roth’s Havana casinos, combined with his Nevada holdings, would make him the biggest legit gaming operator in the Western Hemisphere. Letting the Havana casinos slip to other gangs, like the ones Roth promised pieces to, would weaken him.

After the Tahoe shooting, Michael knew he couldn’t do business with Roth—it was either kill or be killed. He came to Havana, and had Fredo deliver the $2 million to him, to string Roth along so he could buy time to find out who was the traitor in his family. He had to leave Havana with his money to avoid being caught up in any investigations of Roth’s murder.

Michael had reason to believe he might be able to do business with the rebels. Castro had not yet declared himself a Marxist/Leninist, and tourism was Cuba’s third-largest source of revenue after mining and agriculture. I’m guessing that his plan was to wait till the dust settled, then make an approach to the new regime, which may already have learned, from his bringing the $2 million to the island, that he was willing to pay in order to play.

As it happened, Castro closed the casinos almost immediately. But, he reopened them after a noisy demonstration by out-of-work hotel and casino employees—and even hired former heavyweight champ Joe Louis as “official greeter.” That may have given Michael hope for a while. Castro nationalized US property, including the hotels and casinos, in August 1960. But, Michael probably would have known from his Mob sources that the CIA was conspiring with the Mafia to get rid of Castro. “Hope springs eternal…”