While in Havana negotiating with Roth, Michael discovers that
In The Godfather Part II, Frank Pentangeli is portrayed as having been one of godfather Vito Corleone's (Marlon Brando) most trusted associates. A rift grows between Pentangeli and Michael, however, that eventually results in Pentangeli betraying the family.
Roth secretly plans to assassinate Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greene's murder (as depicted in The Godfather). Roth instructs Ola to befriend Michael's brother Fredo, who provides Ola (and Roth) information about Michael that enables them to make an attempt on his life.
What exactly was Fredo Corleone's betrayal of his brother, Michael Corleone? Fredo pulled open the drapes that allowed the hitmen to see into Michael's bedroom the night of Anthony Corleone's first communion, when Michael and Kay were almost killed.
Vincent was also very loyal, being unwilling to betray Michael by running away with Mary, eventually breaking up with her for her safety and to get Michael's approval to become Don, despite his love for her.
After the death of his old friend Don Tomasino Michael decided to retire from the family business. He elevated Vincent to be the new Don of the Corleone family, telling him that going forward he was to call himself Vincent Corleone.
While Tom Hagen initially suspected Clemenza of being the one who would betray Michael to Don Emilio Barzini's alliance, Michael reasoned that the more cunning Tessio was the culprit. Clemenza's strongest attribute to the Corleones was his stubborn loyalty, not his intelligence.
While in Havana, Michael learned that Fredo betrayed him when Fredo accidentally let it slip that he and Johnny Ola had been to a sex show in Havana. He confronted Fredo at a New Year's party in Havana, telling Fredo that he knew he was the traitor, and that he broke Michael's heart.
After telling Michael that he has never met Ola, Fredo later carelessly tells Geary that he had been to a nightclub with Ola. Michael overhears the conversation and realizes that Fredo betrayed him to Roth.
In The Godfather: Part II Fredo betrayed Michael by giving Ola and Roth information that helped to make an attempt on Michael's life at his home. Fredo was careless and naive (which Roth used to his advantage), and he probably didn't have any actual bad intentions against Michael.
Why did Hyman Roth want to kill Michael? Hyman Roth secretly plans to kill Michael, partly to avenge Moe Greene's murder. Hyman Roth tells Ola to befriend Michael's brother Fredo, who provides Ola (and most important, Roth) information about Michael that enables them to make an attempt on his life.
This was done by Michael to give Roth a sense of security and superiority that Michael was wrong about who ordered the hit. Michael then goes to Frankie to reveal that he knows it was actually Roth behind the hit. Michael asks Frankie to make peace with the Rosatos to bide their time.
1974 The Godfather Part II produced, directed, and co-written (with Mario Puzo) by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Corleone gives his brother Fredo Corleone the kiss of death after he discovers Fredo's betrayal.
Hagen subtly told Pentangeli that he did the right thing by recanting, and that if he accepted responsibility for turning on the Corleone family, his own family would always be taken care of and remained unharmed, as had happened with insurrectionists against the Roman Emperors.
Death. Fredo, moments before his death at Lake Tahoe. Upon their mother's death, and at the urging of their sister Connie, Michael relented toward Fredo and seemingly offered reconciliation. However, it was only a deception to draw Fredo in so as to have him murdered by Al Neri.
The servants would be loyal to Michael and point fingers straight at Fredo. Fredo was the betrayer and he was a clumsy one at that. So he crept in there and opened the drapes himself, maybe at the same moment Micheal was telling Geary, “We're all a part of the same hypocrisy.”
One scene in the film which has remained imprinted in my memory since I first saw it, while at the same time being one that I have never fully understood, is that in which Michael finally realizes that his brother Fredo betrayed him to Hyman Roth during New Years in Havana.
The kiss is known as "Il bacio della morte," meaning "the kiss of death." In this instance, it was to signify to Fredo that he was marked for death for betraying his brother to Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) and his right-hand man Johnny Ola (Dominic Chianese) in The Godfather Part II.
Ultimately, Tessio betrays Michael by helping arrange his assassination at a peace summit with Barzini and Philip Tattaglia. The summit will be held in Tessio's fiefdom in Brooklyn, where Michael will presumably be safe.
Fredo was described as a child every Italian parent prayed for-dutiful, loyal, always at service to his father, never embarrassed his father with scandalous behavior with women. Fredo lacked the animal force to be a leader. This is all from the book-he was set up as a quiet, weak person.
Originally Answered: Why did Michael kill Fredo? Fredo was part of a plot to assassinate Michael. Arguably Fredo could have been forgiven as his character was known now and he could be controlled, but putting things in the perspective of "Corleone Family" the act of betrayal by Fredo deserves special treatment.
Hagen was originally intended to have been featured in The Godfather Part III, but was written out due to a salary dispute between Duvall and the film's producers. Coppola stated in the film's commentary that Duvall demanded the same salary as Al Pacino (who portrayed Michael Corleone).
The Godfather Returns
Most noteworthy, the novel depicts Clemenza's fatal heart attack (mentioned in The Godfather Part II), and the many conspiracy theories that he had actually been murdered by the Rosato Brothers, former Corleone soldiers who had formed their own gang after a dispute over the future of the family.
Vito didn't know Tessio was the traitor, at least not for certain. He knew the traitor had to be one of the family's most trusted people, so he must have at least considered that it might be Tessio. But when he had his talk with Michael, Vito still didn't suspect Tessio above any of the other possibilities.