Does anyone know the origin of this phrase? Presumably it is a Sicilian message for killing someone as is shown in the film, but anyone know where Puzo got the idea from? Any specific examples of its use?

In the novel it says that Luca is sleeping on the bottom of the ocean. Not as poetic as the movie.

Actually, it's what they used to do with people who called tomato sauce gravy.

Who would say such a thing??

It was used for anyone who got whacked and then dumped overboard in the ocean to hide the body. Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn was a dumping ground for some real-life wiseguys who crossed somebody. One of the Gallo Bros. crew was dumped there and his shirt was delivered to the gang with a fish inside of it (around 1961).

Or people who insist on quoting the novel while posting in the Trilogy thread.

Exactly right SC. Great example my friend!

As a matter of fact it was Joseph "Joe Jelly" Gioelli, a member of the Gallo crew, who was taken out on a fishing boat, shot, dismembered and dumped in the water. His clothes were removed before being dumped, stuffed with dead fish and then thrown in front of an auto repair shop which was known to have been frequented by the Gallo crew. Hence "Joe Jelly sleeps with the fishes."

GOOD GRAVY, people, I think it actually was used by corsicans or someone other than Sicilians to begin with.

I don't doubt it DT. But SC and I were answering his question as to where Puzo probably got the idea from. The Joe Jelly sleeps with the fishes message was most likely the inspiration for the Luca sleeps with the fishes message for both Puzo and FFC.

Understood, DC, I was more interested in the gravy issue

Heh, come over here, kid, learn something. You never know, you might have to cook for twenty guys someday. You see, you start out with a little bit of oil. Then you fry some garlic. Then you throw in some tomatoes, tomato paste, you fry it; ya make sure it doesn't stick. You get it to a boil; you shove in all your sausage and your meatballs; heh?... And a little bit o' wine. An' a little bit o' sugar, and that's my trick.

Cut the crap.