Question about Godfather II (Spoilers)

I didn't know that! Did you like him in Faces?

Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but I've still got to disagree concerning Pentangeli's brother: if Pentangeli had testified as planned, I think the brother would have been killed. When Pentangeli says that his brother could have had his own family, I've always taken that to mean that he chose not to because he wanted to stay as far away from the crime business as possible. Therefore, the idea that his presence in the courtroom would shame Pentangeli into not talking--i.e., his presence reinforces for Pentangeli the code of silence all gangsters are supposed to honour--hinges on a first-hand involvement with the crime world that the brother, by choice, just doesn't have. There's no (im)moral suasion at work, because that's the kind of thing that could only come from another gangster, and the brother's largely oblivious to that world. Which would also explain how they got him over there in the first place: he has nothing to fear, because it would never to occur to him why he's really been brought over.

I haven't seen "Faces" in forever, but I recall it's one of the less annoying Cassavetes films.

My personal impression of Pentangeli's brother being in court room was message. "It was between the Brother's, Kay. I had nothing to do with it." Michael tells Kay this, and I believe it to be true.

Pentangeli's brother was there to remind Frank that he is a Corleone. That they are all family, as his brother is also family. Signifying, of course, that family does not betray family. (Being very ironic to the fact that Fredo did, and they both knew it -- and Fredo would pay). The whole point of Frankie backing down was not from a threat -- he was doing it because he felt betrayed -- once Michael is able to send him the message (not being able to tal kto him obviously as he was in custody of the FBI) Frank realises that Michael didn't betray him.

In relation to Fredo... he had no idea. Simple. Fredo never had a clue, even from birth.

That's how I've always read both scenes too.

what exactly did fredo do against michael if he said he didn't know it was going to be a hit?

He told the rival family what part of the house Michael sleeps in, so they could just have a meeting there and talk things out.