The Godfather Scenario: Would Carlo Rizzi Become the New Don?

In The Godfather, the mysterious and powerful Don Barzini was an enemy of the Corleone family. Hypothetically, if Michael Corleone had been killed, would Barzini have made Carlo Rizzi the new Don of the Corleone family?

Barzini's Perspective and Strategy

Don Barzini would not have utilized Carlo Rizzi for such a high-ranking position. Carlo Rizzi was seen more as a tool to draw out Sonny Corleone than as a potential high-level partner. In the movie, it is clear that Barzini had eyes for much darker characters.

'Barzini would have seen immediately what Vito saw: that Carlo was a dim bulb and completely untrustworthy.'

Barzini would most likely have either paid off Carlo or had him eliminated. Carlo's purpose was to act as a pawn, and he lacked both the intelligence and skills necessary to run a complex crime organization. Even if Carlo had managed to defeat Connie (Michael's mother), he would not have the temperament or capability to become a cold-blooded killer, a necessary trait for a capo or soldier in the “heavy work.”

Barzini's Assessment of Carlo Rizzi

From Barzini’s perspective, Carlo Rizzi was far from a valuable asset. His competence in running his betting shop was highly questioned, as it was reported that he was incompetent and only caused losses. Barzini would likely have concluded that Carlo would eventually become a liability once his usefulness was over. In this future scenario, Carlo might be paid off and silenced or eliminated to preserve Barzini’s secrets.

'Carlo would have been paid off for setting up Sonny and maybe a vague promise of greater things later on. Knowing Carlo was imcompetent after Barzini had defeated the Corleones, Barzini would have reasoned that Carlo would have outlived his usefulness and may well have had him killed aswell.'

The Real Possibility: Terence Pitts' Role

A more realistic scenario would involve Terence Pitts, the corrupt cop and trusted confidant of the rival Barzini family. If Michael Corleone had been killed, it would be highly likely that Tessio, a known traitor and key player in the betrayal, would take over the Corleone family. While it's possible that Barzini's boss might use a similar strategy with Tessio to set him up and then eliminate him, this would not be the choice for an experienced and calculating Don like Barzini.

"This is not a valid GF question for a few reasons. Hypothetical questions are for fan forums. If you have read the novel or actually watched the film GFI it would be painfully obvious to know that Tessio would assume any type of control over the Corleone family."

Conclusion

Carlo Rizzi, with his limited skills and questionable loyalty, would not have been a suitable replacement for Michael Corleone in the eyes of Don Barzini. Instead, the likely candidate would be someone with a proven track record in crime and the strategic mind to outmaneuver rivals. Barzini would have ensured that Carlo was neutralized to both protect his interests and to avoid any potential leaks to law enforcement.

Keywords: The Godfather, Michael Corleone, Carlo Rizzi