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.

Who set up Sonny in The Godfather?

However, Vito and Michael had figured out early on that Rizzi set Sonny up, and they brought him deeper within the family fold solely as a ploy to make him complacent.

How did they ambush Sonny?

“Go after him, go on!” Tom tells other members of the family, and they get into a car to follow him. Sonny ultimately drives off to his demise as he is ambushed at a tollbooth by machine gunfire, in a set-up orchestrated by enemies of the family with the help of Carlo.

Who was the first choice for Sonny Corleone?

According to studio executive Robert Evans in his 1994 memoir The Kid Stays in the Picture, Caridi was director Francis Ford Coppola's first choice for the role of Sonny Corleone, but Evans insisted on James Caan because Caridi was too tall to play opposite Al Pacino.

Who put the hit on the Godfather?

Then, some theories as to who killed the would-be assassinations can be drawn. As we know by the end of the film, Hyman Roth is behind the hit on Michael. There are a few reasons for this, the largest of which is resentment at Michael having killed Moe Greene in Godfather I.

Why Sonny Corleone Had To Die

Who put the bomb in the car Godfather?

Tragically, she's later killed in a car bomb planted by Michael's bodyguard Fabrizio (Angelo Infanti), who betrayed him to his enemies. While Michael gets revenge on those who ordered the hit, Fabrizio is never seen again.

Who snitched in The Godfather?

Fredo later betrays Michael after being approached by Johnny Ola (Dominic Chianese), an associate of rival crime boss Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg). Ola and Roth tell Fredo that Michael is being particularly difficult in business negotiations between Roth's organization and the Corleone family.

Who betrayed Sonny in Godfather?

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.

Which family killed Sonny in The Godfather?

In the late summer of 1948, Sonny Corleone was lured into a trap and was killed at the Jones Beach Causeway by Barzini family hitmen in order to avenge Carlo. The hit was engineered by Emilio Barzini after Carlo, angered at the loss of his income and at the fact that Sonny had beaten him, helped set it up.

Who didn't want Al Pacino in The Godfather?

"The studio didn't want Al Pacino at all," Keaton said, noting that she was cast before him in the Francis Ford Coppola classic. She then explained what caused the studio to change their opinion: their chemistry read.

Did Connie know Carlo killed Sonny?

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.

Why did Carlo betray Sonny?

In a fit of pique, Carlo sought revenge by making a deal with the Corleones' rival Emilio Barzini to kill Sonny, which would break the stalemate of the Five Families War and possibly allow the other crime families to negotiate a deal to sell narcotics in Corleone territory.

How did Vito know there was a traitor?

How did Vito Corleone know whomever approached Michael Corleone to set up a meeting with the Emilio Barzini would be the traitor? Because as much as Vito had earned the loyalty of Peter Clemenza and Sal Tessio, he also knew that every capo has a limit; and loyalty never automatically transfers from father to son.

Who killed Luca Brasi?

Don Philip Tattaglia then arranges a meeting between Brasi and Sollozzo. Sollozzo, not fooled by the ruse, impales Brasi's hand into a table while one of his men strangles Brasi to death with piano wire.

Who killed Vito Corleone?

Shortly afterwards, on July 29, 1955, Vito dies of a heart attack in his garden while playing with his grandson, Michael's son Anthony.

Why did Fredo betray Michael?

Fredo betrayed his brother to rival gangster Hyman Roth, who used him as a pawn in a plot to destroy the Corleone Family. Fredo provided unspecified information on the Corleone family in return for receiving compensation (what kind is never specified) independently of the family.

Why was Apollonia killed?

After Michael is notified of Sonny's murder, he and Apollonia prepare to move to Siracusa, but she is killed by a car bomb meant for Michael, proving the other Mafia families know where he is hiding.

Why was Barzini killed?

Michael has been planning for some time to eliminate Barzini and the other Dons, and deliberately allowed Barzini to weaken his family in order to lull him into complacency. Shortly thereafter, Barzini is assassinated along with the other conspirators.

Who killed Fredo Corleone?

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.

Did Paulie actually betray Vito?

Paulie has seemingly betrayed Vito—and thus the family—by selling him out. In The Godfather, this kind of betrayal is the worst of all sins. We see the matter discussed, in the Corleone family office, just before the viewer spends time in front of Clemenza's cozy abode.

Why did Sonny have Paulie killed?

Having Paulie brought to the Corleone compound Sonny Corleone deduced that Gatto had sold out his father. Sonny ordered Clemenza to have Gatto killed as soon as possible, saying he did not want to see Gatto again.

Why did Carlo betray Michael Corleone?

7 Carlo Rizzi Betrayed The Family Because He Felt Mistreated

This betrayal didn't go unpunished as Michael eventually got revenge by killing Carlo. While it may have gone against Vito's wishes, Michael's decision proved he would not tolerate anyone betraying his family.

Who are the traitors in the Corleone family?

In "The Godfather" movie, the traitor is Fredo Corleone, the brother of the main character, Michael Corleone. There were two. First, there was Carlo, who was already a strong suspect. He continued to physically abuse his wife, Connie, even after Sonny had strongly warned him not to.

Why was Fredo so weak?

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.

What did Fredo do to break Michael's heart?

Fredo betrayed Michael by working with Johnny Ola and Hyman Roth behind the scenes, when the Corleone and Roth organizations were negotiating a business deal. It's unclear exactly what Fredo told Johnny Ola - rather, it's implied that Fredo is just kind of stupidly naive and probably said too much about the family.