05/09/2025
In "The Godfather" (1972) why did Carlo Rizzi easily fall for Michael's lie at the end? Didn't he know that playing a role in Michael's brother's death and beating his sister increases his chances of being killed?
Answer:
He was frightened. He wanted to live.
Carlo was at the phone, dialing away when Michael showed up un-announced. He didn’t mince any words. He went straight to it:
"You have to answer for Santino, Carlo".
Nobody ever said more with less. This meant that Michael knew. It also meant that Carlo was about to pay. That’s why Carlo stood up and stepped toward Michael, mumbling his denial:
"Michael, you’ve got it all wrong".
This was countered with Michael stepping closer to him.
"You fingered Sonny for the Barzini people".
The moment Michael said it, Carlo stood there speechless. He didn’t have a comeback.
"Ah, that little farce you played with my sister. Think that it would fool a Corleone?"
At this point, men were flanking him on each side. All Carlo could do was beg for mercy.
"Michael, I’m innocent, I swear on my kids’ life".
By this point, Carlo had one of Michael’s men standing behind him, waiting for the word. Carlo made one more attempt:
"Please don’t do this".
When Michael told him to sit, he sat, like a dog waiting for an order from his master. Michel grabbed a chair and sat next to him. Leaning over, like was making casual conversation, he gave Carlo the run-down:
"Barzini’s dead, so is Philip Tattaglia, Moe Greene, Stracci, Cunio..."
At this point, it had to hit Carlo like a ton of bricks. Michael was just as scary as his father. Carlo put his head in his hand and began to weep.
"Today, I settled all family business. So don’t tell me that you’re innocent. Admit what you did".
At this point, Michael gave one of the men a look as Carlo fell apart. Patting him in a comforting way, Michael talked to him like he was counseling him.
"Don’t be afraid. Come on. You think I’d make my sister a widow? I’m godfather to your son, Carlo".
At this moment, someone handed Carlo a drink.
"Go ahead".
Carlo took a drink. Michael went on:
"No, Carlo. Your punishment is you’re out of the family business. You’re finished. I’m putting you onto a plane to Vegas".
At this point, Carlo was looking up at Michael with a look of relief. Could it be that he was the one guy who’d actually walk out of this thing alive?
"Tom?"
Michael reached back and was handed a plane ticket, which he then gave to Carlo.
"I want you to stay? Understand?"
By this point, Carlo is nodding like a child being given explicit instructions from a disappointed parent.
"Only don’t tell me you’re innocent because it insults my intelligence. It makes me very angry".
So, from Carlo’s point of view, there was no point in denying. Michael already knew what was going on. There was no point in antagonizing Michael. He had already taken out all of the other guys. He had given an indication that Carlo was different, because he didn’t want to bring grief to his sister or his sister's children.
But there was a catch. Michael was expecting a confession. Anything less would infuriate him. Michael then left a long pause to allow his words to sink in. It was life and death. Carlo had to be considering his options.
"Now, who approached you? Tattaglia or Barzini?"
Michael gave Carlo another long pause to see what he would say. Carlo thought about it, looked around and then made his confession.
"It was Barzini..."
This confirmed Vito’s conclusions, earlier in the film, as he was going home from the meeting with the other heads of the Five Families. It made sense. As Vito told Tom:
“Tattaglia is a pimp. Tattaglia could never have held off against Santino... I never knew until this day that it Barzini all along...”
It also confirmed MIchael’s suspicions, after meeting with Moe Greene, whom he’d provoked into admitting that he’d talked to Barzini, who had promised him that he could still keep his casino if he went with him. This wasn’t a mere fishing expedition, because unlike Sonny, who killed Paulie before getting any good information out of him, Michael wanted to get what it could before he pulled a trigger.
"Good..." Said Michael
And with that, Michael grabbed the drink, got up, pulled his chair away and got busy. Most of what he said here was with his eyes averted.
"There’s a car outside. It’ll take you to the airport. I’ll call your wife and let her know what flight you’re on".
Carlo got up and approached Michael, as if to apologize.
"Get out of my sight".
And with that, Carlo walked away, taking a moment as one of Michael’s men helped him put his suit coat on. His bags were packed in the trunk. One of Michael’s men pulled open the front side passenger door and Carlo got in, not giving much thought to the fact that Clemenza was sitting in the back seat.
Michael stood outside, with others, to witness Carlo’s final farewell, just as Clemenza introduced himself:
"Hello, Carlo..."
And with that, Clemenza garroted Carlo, who, in his last struggle for life, kicked his foot through the windshield.
Would Carlo have been better off if he had maintained the lie? Probably not. Michael went there to kill him, not debate him. Michael already knew of Carlo’s guilt. He just wanted to hear Carlo admit it. It was a shrewd and effective strategy, though clearly cold and Machiavellian.
If nothing else, everybody there came away knowing that you don’t mess with Michael Corleone.— with Victor Simon-jnr.
