Carlo Rizzi is the secondary antagonist in Mario Puzo's 1969 novel The Godfather and its 1972 film adaptation. He is the abusive husband of Connie Corleone who conspires with mob boss Emilio Barzini to have Connie's brother Sonny killed.
Connie (who was unaware of her husband's role in Sonny's murder), hysterical after Carlo's death, blames Michael, denouncing him in front of his wife, Kay. In the novel, Connie quickly recovers from Carlo's demise, apparently relieved to be rid of an abusive, philandering husband.
Following the death of their mother, Connie forgave Michael, stating that he was only being strong for the family as their father had been. She then begged Michael to forgive Fredo for betraying him, and Michael appeared to do so; however, it was merely a ploy to draw Fredo in so Michael could have him killed.
Victor Rizzi was the son of Connie Corleone and Carlo Rizzi. He was at Anthony Corleone's first communion and seen with his brother Michael Rizzi coming in the door at Carmela Corleone's funeral. Victor was arrested in Reno for theft some time shortly before Anthony's first communion.
At the Long Beach Causeway toll plaza, Barzini's men trap Sonny and shoot him to death. During a meeting with the other crime family dons to establish peace, Vito realizes that Barzini masterminded Sonny's murder. After Michael returns from Sicily, he assumes Sonny's place as Vito's heir apparent.
Connie is Vito and Carmela's youngest child and only daughter. She has something of a troubled love life, which, it turns out, is crucial to the plot. Her first husband, Carlo Rizzi, is an abusive one. Nonetheless, they still go on to have two children together – Victor and Michael-Francis.
In Winegardner's 2006 sequel, The Godfather's Revenge, Fredo appears in one of Michael's dreams. In the dream, Fredo warns Michael about an unspecified threat, and asks him why he had his own brother killed. Much of the novel portrays Michael dealing with his guilt over Fredo's murder.
Toward the end of the film, Michael names Vincent as his successor, on condition that he break off his relationship with Mary. After her brother's debut concert, the assassin Mosca tries to kill Michael. One bullet grazes Michael's shoulder, but the other accidentally hits Mary in the chest, fatally wounding her.
In The Godfather II, Vito Corleone chooses his younger son, Michael, instead of his older son, Fredo, as his successor. This decision is based on Michael's intelligence and ability.
Frustrated at his minor role in the family business, Carlo regularly physically abused and cheated on Connie as a means of exerting his own power over the Corleones.
Fredo's decision is most likely a result of resentment toward Michael, by whom he felt he had been passed over. Michael was Fredo's "kid brother," and the fact that their father chose for Michael to take over the "family business" came as a great insult to Fredo, who was neither as intelligent nor as strong.
It was pretty much an open secret in the Corleone family that Carlo had set up Sonny. Even Connie had picked up on it when she screams at Michael “ you blamed Carlo for Sonny, you all did” after Carlo is killed.
That is the irony: Carlo did not ever betray Michael. He liked him well enough, and believed him when Michael told Carlo that he would be a key part of his inner circle with the Nevada transition. However, Carlo betrayed Sonny, which was no small matter. He set Sonny up for murder.
Yes. The way she reminded Michael that poor Fredo had drowned seemed to make it clear she was telling him she knew. It was her speech, manner, and inflection that inferred the truth. A woman who had become as astute and clever as Connie wouldn't just make an idle comment such as that.
Gianni Russo was in “The Godfather” but says he never assaulted Talia Shire, as depicted in the eighth episode of “The Offer,” the docuseries about the making of the movie classic.
In the original cut, Michael retires to his Lake Tahoe estate after Mary's murder – then one day slumps over in his chair and dies. In the new cut, everything is set up the same; but Michael is denied an on-camera death. Instead, he's forced to live with the guilt of losing his closest loved one.
Johnny Depp, who had traveled with her, called the studio to tell them Ryder wasn't feeling well and couldn't get out of bed, and after the production's doctor examined her, the doctor declared Ryder was suffering from nervous collapse and advised producers to send her home or she would suffer a complete breakdown.
Apollonia (the Sicilian wife) was killed in a car bombing meant to hit Michael. She wanted to show Michael how her driving skills had improved and basically took his place, as he was the one supposed to be in the car.
Michael arranges to have Roth killed at the airport where he is about to be taken into U.S. federal custody. Minutes after disembarking the plane, he is fatally shot by Michael's caporegime Rocco Lampone, posing as a reporter. Rocco himself is killed by federal agents as he tries to escape.
Vincent is the illegitimate son of Sonny Corleone and his mistress Lucy Mancini. He eventually succeeds his uncle Michael as head of the Corleone family. In Mario Puzo's original 1969 novel Lucy did not conceive a child with Sonny.
According to The Godfather Part III, Hagen has already died before the time frame of the film, which is 1979–1980. There is no specific indication in the film as to when or how he died, except that it was prior to his son, Andrew (John Savage), being ordained a Roman Catholic priest.
Its fame started when its name was linked to the name of the mafia Family in the American movie saga “The Godfather.” In fact, the Corleone family does not exist. It is a cinematographic fiction.
