The Music Man (1962)

Pert Kelton: Mrs. Paroo

Photos 

Quotes 

• [in song] 

  Marian Paroo : Do you think that I'd allow a common masher - ? Now, really, Mama. I have my standards where men are concerned and I have no intention...

  Mrs. Paroo : I know all about your standards and if you don't mind my sayin' so there's not a man alive who could hope to measure up to that blend of Paul Bunyan, Saint Pat, and Noah Webster you've concocted for yourself out of your Irish imagination, your Iowa stubbornness, and your li'berry full of books!

• [On Marion's choosiness when it comes to men] 

  Mrs. Paroo : It's a well-known principle that if you keep the flint in one drawer and the steel in the other, you'll never strike much of a fire.

• [in song] 

  Mrs. Paroo : When a woman's got a husband, and you've got none, why should she take advice from you? Even if you can quote Balzac and Shakespeare and all them other high-falutin' Greeks.

• Harold Hill : Ah, yes, my dear Mrs. Paroo. You must realize that only one out of every 78 adults has a ganglion that reaches the ligature clear down to the apex. This automatically turns your entire face into an amazing embouchure.

  Mrs. Paroo : Well, I never had a sick day in my life, Doctor.

• Harold Hill : All of the really great cornet players were Irish - O'Clark, O'Mendez, O'Klein.

  Mrs. Paroo : But professor, we are Irish.

  Harold Hill : No? No, really? Well that chinches it. Sign here, madam. Your boy was born to play the cornet... That'll be $7 earnest money.

• Mrs. Paroo : Library open later than usual tonight, dear?

  Marian Paroo : It always is, Mama.

• Amaryllis : I'm having a party on Saturday. I'd like it if you could come.

  Mrs. Paroo : Well, Amaryllis asked you to her party. Are you going or not?

  Winthrop Paroo : No.

  Mrs. Paroo : No what?

  Winthrop Paroo : No, thank you.

  Mrs. Paroo : No thank you, who? You know the little girl's name.

  Amaryllis : I bet he won't say it.

  Mrs. Paroo : No, "thank you, WHO," Winthrop?

  Winthrop Paroo : No, thank you, AMARYLLITH!

  Amaryllis : Amaryllith! Amaryllith!

• Mrs. Paroo : You've a gift of blarney about you, and no mistakin' about that.