Funny / The Music Man

• From the film, as Harold tries to get Marian's attention in the library:
  Harold: "Marbles. Six steelies, eight Aggies, a dozen pee-wees, and a great big glassie with the American flag in the middle. (Beat) I think I'll drop 'em."
  Marian: "No!"
  Harold: "Shhh!"
  • For a double-dip of humor, toward the end of the song he offers her a marshmallow out of the same bag, suggesting that the marble threat was a bluff.
• In the opening song, this moment, setting up Harold's bad reputation: "Ever met a fella by the name of Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill?" "Hill!" (In unison) "NO!"
• Hill realizes his old buddy Marcellus is now living in the town, having a good life and engaged to a local girl.
  Hill: So you've gone legitimate. I always knew you'd turn out no good.
• Marcellus presses Hill on his current work.
  Marcellus: Last I heard, you were selling steam-powered automobiles.
  Hill: I was.
  Marcellus: Why'd you stop?
  Hill: Someone actually invented one.
• Mayor Shinn messing up an introduction: "The Wa-Tan-Yee Girls of the local wigwam of Heeawatha will present a spectacle, my wife — in which my wife, Eulalie McKecknie Shinn, will take a leading part."
• Harold actually convincing Mayor Shinn to buy a flugelhorn for his son, only for Mayor Shinn to realize he doesn't have a son and proceeds to rant and rave while Harold slinks away, only for Mrs. Shinn to come outside and think he's ranting at her.
  Mayor Shinn: I haven't got any son! I never had a son!
  Mrs. Shinn: I never said you did.
  Mayor Shinn: Well, what do you know?
  Mrs. Shinn: I'd certainly know if I gave you a son!
  Mayor Shinn: I'm not talking to you!
  Mrs. Shinn: Who are you talking to?
  Mayor Shinn: (Indicating Harold) Him!
  Mrs. Shinn: Who?
  Mayor Shinn: (Looking around and Harold is gone) Never mind...
  Mrs. Shinn: (To their daughter) Zaneeta, call Dr. Pine for your father.
• Most viewers haven't heard of the Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam, but you don't need this knowledge to laugh at Mrs. Shinn mangling it: "The Ruby Hat of Omar Kayayayayay...I am appalled!"
  • In addition there's this little exchange, made hilarious by Hermione Gingold's Comically Serious Grand Dame delivery.
    Marian: Surely you'd rather she [Zaneeta] be reading a classic than... than Elinor Glyn!
    Mrs. Shinn: What Elinor Glyn reads is her mother's problem! Meanwhile, I suggest you keep your dirty books away from my daughter!
• Harold telling Marian's mother all the best cornet players were Irish, such as O'Clark, O'Klein, and O'Mendez. (Those are cornet brand names.)
• "Chaucer! Rabelais! BALZAC!".