Fredo’s death in The Godfather Part II is arguably the most shocking moment in the entire trilogy, but whether it comes as a shock to Fredo himself is another matter entirely. The Godfather Part II‘s plot involves John Cazale’s Fredo Corleone betraying his brother Michael by feeding information to Hyman Roth, unwittingly setting up an attempt on Michael’s life. Used as a pawn, Fredo never set out to endanger Michael’s life, but such details matter little to the Corleone family don, and Fredo is mercilessly killed in The Godfather Part II‘s ending.
The incident happens during a fishing trip. Fredo intends to venture onto the lake with Al Neri, Michael’s right-hand man, and Anthony, Michael’s son. Ultimately, only Fredo and Neri end up angling, and the latter puts a bullet in the former’s back as per Michael’s orders. While the reason for Fredo’s death is plainly apparent, how much the middle Corleone brother knows in advance remains unclear. Since Neri shoots his victim from behind, the audience is deprived of a reaction that would confirm whether Fredo expects a gun to be drawn. Fortunately, clues from elsewhere fill the gaps.
Fredo Most Likely Doesn’t Know He’s Going To Die In The Godfather Part II’s Ending
Does Fredo Not Knowing Make The Godfather Part II’s Ending More Or Less Tragic?
It can be said with a high degree of certainty that Fredo does not wake up on the morning of The Godfather Part II‘s fishing trip knowing he won’t see the next sunrise. The biggest clue is the boat’s planned third occupant. Right up until Fredo is literally stepping foot onto the fishing boat, he still believes young Anthony will be joining him. Fredo may not have a reputation as the most courageous character in The Godfather‘s world, but even he wouldn’t subject a child to witnessing his uncle’s murder. If Fredo has any idea that Al Neri will be shooting him, he would be leaving Anthony behind.
Fredo never breaks away from acting casually composed.
As Fredo boards the fateful vessel, Anthony is called away by Connie, who claims the boy is needed for Michael’s trip to Reno. This, of course, is a lie, and part of Michael orchestrating his brother’s death by excusing his son from the soon-to-be murder scene. It could be argued that Anthony being suddenly and mysteriously called away at the last moment is when Fredo’s brain clicks into gear, and he realizes ᴀssᴀssination is imminent. Examining The Godfather Part II‘s ending, however, this doesn’t appear to be the case.
As Anthony leaves, Fredo merely utters, “Oh sh*t” with a hint of slight annoyance. He then adds, “Okay, kid, you got to go to Reno with your Pop… I’ll take you fishing again tomorrow, okay?” The response is so mundane, so ordinary, that it seems almost implausible that Fredo is suspicious at this point. If Anthony’s hurried exit was the thing that made Fredo realize he was going to die, he would have only two possible reactions: panic and terror, or solemn acceptance. Fredo shows neither, simply acting like someone whose plans are getting unexpectedly changed at the last minute.
Even if Fredo realizes the truth but doesn’t want to make a scene, he would surely offer a more emotional farewell to his nephew. Instead, Fredo never breaks away from acting casually composed – and if The Godfather shows anything about Fredo’s character, it’s that he rarely acts casually composed in life-threatening situations. At the very least, therefore, it can be said that Fredo is blissfully unaware of his death while he and Al Neri wait at the dock of Lake Tahoe.
The Argument For Fredo Knowing What Would Happen On The Boat
Does Fredo Finally Connect The Dots After The Boat Leaves?
It is possible that Fredo puts the pieces together offscreen, sometime between leaving the dock without Anthony and Al Neri pulling the trigger. For one thing, Fredo knows exactly how his brother, and The Godfather‘s Five Families in general, operate. He knows Michael was devastated by his betrayal, and that everyone else who ever wronged Don Corleone ended up sleeping with the fishes, not catching them. Fredo would also be aware that Al Neri is the man who typically carries out such murders.
It almost feels like Michael’s ʙuттon man is actually waiting for Fredo to finish praying.
Fredo is not shown to be especially close or friendly with Neri either, so the prospect of an intimate fishing trip together represents an immediate red flag. Anyone should be able to combine these clues – Michael’s habit of getting revenge on enemies, Anthony getting called away, being left alone on a small boat with Neri – and see the situation for what it is. Fredo may do exactly that as his boat veers farther and farther away from dry land.
The other clue that Fredo has done the math can be found during his very final moments. Whenever The Godfather Part II shows the fishing boat, Fredo is sitting with his back to Al Neri. The men make no attempt at conversation, and there is no joy in Fredo’s voice whatsoever as he says his Hail Marys. If Fredo genuinely believes this is still a pleasant lake trip, he would be talking to Neri, or facing him at the very least. Fredo would be having some semblance of fun, or enjoying a beer, but his voice only ever sounds melancholic, and his body never shifts.
Earlier in The Godfather Part II, Fredo explained that saying Hail Marys was his good luck charm while fishing.
It falls very much within Fredo’s characterization that he would, if death was inevitable, turn his back and say a prayer – not for the fish, but for himself. This theory would also explain why Al Neri takes so long to pull the trigger. The ᴀssᴀssin could have done the deed as soon as the boat came to a standstill, but he bides his time, and it almost feels like Michael’s ʙuттon man is actually waiting for Fredo to finish praying. Perhaps Fredo realizes his life is over, then Neri notices that Fredo knows and allows his victim to say a few final words before the sH๏τ is fired. Otherwise, there is no reason for Neri to delay.
Fredo Knowing Or Not Knowing Reveals A Lot About His Character In The Godfather
Has Fredo Learned His Lesson About Trust In The Mafia?
Whether Fredo knows or does not know he will die on The Godfather Part II‘s fishing boat, the answer reveals a great deal about his character. Should he truly remain oblivious, it proves Michael’s point that his brother is ill-suited to the family business, and a gullible liability. Fredo’s death scene is packed with warning signs, and the prospect of Michael truly letting his brother’s betrayal slide always felt unlikely. If Fredo falls for Michael’s apparent show of mercy, then he learned nothing from the Hyman Roth situation, and remains as naive as ever until drawing his final breath.
Michael never intended to let his brother’s story end happily.
On the other hand, Fredo knowing about and accepting his demise demonstrates a level of bravery and fight that the middle brother failed to show anywhere else in The Godfather‘s story. Given Fredo’s reputation as a hapless coward, one might expect him to begin begging Al Neri for his life. If Fredo is able to make peace with the fact that Michael has ordered his death at the end of The Godfather Part II, that highlights a huge leap of growth. It perhaps also confirms that Michael’s ᴀssᴀssination is more about revenge than killing off a danger to the Corleone family.
If Fredo has the capacity to face the grim reaper with dignity on Lake Tahoe, he possesses more forтιтude than Michael gives him credit for, and evidently did learn a harsh lesson from trusting Hyman Roth. That version of Fredo might have become an ᴀsset to the Corleone empire after The Godfather Part II, but ᴀsset or not, Michael never intended to let his brother’s story end happily.
