re: Godfather question that's always bothered me

quote:

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Fredo has jealousy issues, sure. He's just not a criminal at heart. He's a good natured guy who just wants to go fishing with the kids. He had no place in the criminal underworld. Fredo nurtured the goodness in himself, and only really saw the good in others. Unfortunately, he lived in reality in which most people had little to no goodness.

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Fredo had the talent to run the family's hotels and casinos, which worked in favor of the family's transition to legitimate enterprises, but he had ambitions higher than his abilities dictated.


He wanted to be the Don after Sonny died, but Michael got that instead.

He wanted to be influential in the family's inner circle, but Tom Hagen got that role instead.

He pretty much wanted the stars and it never quite worked out for him, such as him marrying moviestar Deanna Dunn, whose marriage to him was a disaster if Godfather 2 is any sign.



Also, if you want to argue about who the Don's "best" kid is, you could make a solid argument for Tom Hagen, who is the adopted one, alongside Michael, who was rebellious.

He was the one who followed the Don's recommendation to become a lawyer, as a lawyer was a better asset to their business than a leg-breaker like Sonny, married an Italian girl and was faithful to her, etc.