<![CDATA[Michael's Strategy vs. Roth's Strategy - Questions?]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Godfather: Part II

kag2 — 9 years ago(January 16, 2017 10:22 AM)

After the failed hit on Michael in Nevada, Michael visits Roth in Miami and then Pantangelli in NYC. In Miami, Michael lies to Roth, telling him that it was Pantangelli who tried to hit him, and advising Roth that he (Michael) would "visit him soon." Then, Michael goes to NYC and tells Pantangelli that it was Rotha who tried to kill him, and Pantangelli agrees to make up with the Rosati's so Roth will think his relationship with Michael is still good.
BUT:

  1. After the visit, Roth arranges for the fake hit on Pantangelli to get him to rat out Michael and it succeeds (at first). So did Roth realize that Michael was NOT going to hit Pantangelli, and that Michael knew it was Roth who tried to eliminate him? Or did Roth want to beat Michael to the punch against Pantangelli, to get Michael indicted? And wouldn't Roth be smart enough to realize that a near-genius like Michael would know it was Roth who tried to hit Micheal, rather than Pantangelli?
  2. After Pantangelli is fake hit (and Michael believes him dead), Michael has Fredo bring a ton of cash to Havana. Then Michael stalls on handing it over to Roth. If Michael didn't want to invest in Cuba - due to wanting to hit Roth or due to fears of Castro winning Cuba - why bring the money? Or, if he wanted to give Roth the $$$$ to get the old man to let his guard down so he could be more easily hit, why refuse to give him the money and gripe to the old man about Roth hitting Pantangelli?
    Your explanations appreciated.
]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/186898/michael-s-strategy-vs-roth-s-strategy-questionsRSS for NodeThu, 14 May 2026 08:08:57 GMTTue, 28 Apr 2026 23:06:04 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Michael's Strategy vs. Roth's Strategy - Questions? on Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:06:05 GMT]]>gzillah — 9 years ago(January 18, 2017 04:22 PM)

Yeah I think Michael knew it was Roth the whole time, even before he visited Roth at his home. I think they were enemies from the very beginning and they both knew it.
As for the hit on Pentangeli, Roth probably thought Michael actually WAS gonna kill pentangeli, so Roth beat him to the punch staged his plan. And then when Michael has the briefcase of money, I believe that was all Michael's plan to have Roth let his guard down and murder him. Just like when Michael murders Carlo, he goes to all the trouble of actually purchasing a plane ticket (probably first class!) for Carlo. Master strategist

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1568656https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1568656Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:06:05 GMT