I'm with the crowd that thinks Fredo was in deeper than the movie and even the novel let on. While back in Tahoe after finding out that Pentageli is indeed alive, Michael asks Fredo if he has any information that would help him in the Senate iunvestigation. In this conversation, Fredo ultimately tells Michael that he was "stepped over" for command of the Family, and that he didn't really care that Don Vito wanted it that way. (To further accentuate Fredo's sub-par intelligence, and therefore his unfitness for command of the Family, the excuses he offered Michael were fully pathetic). That attitude from Fredo sealed it for me that he was in way deep and simply HAD to be eliminated. Michael made this clear as well by informing Fredo that he was completely disowning him.
Once again, great discussion and observations. Thoroughly enjoyable and informative.
"The only wealth in this world is children. More than all the money and power on Earth." --Michael Corleone
