win a harem

[gamboler]

This is what I think he says. But maybe I misheard the last word and it's not a harem but "a hair room" or "a heron" (a type of large water-bird).

If it were "a harem", I guess he doesn't mean it literally, that he would be speaking figuratively. Otherwise, it would be very politically incorrect.

Is the sentence some kind of a very dated idiom? Could it have another meaning different from "Muslim's wives and concubines collectively considered"?

Whole dialogue:

Town Sheriff: What about it?
LAPD Detective: Find an error in this picture, and win yourself a *****.
Town Sheriff: Huh?
LAPD Detective: I'm strictly a city boy at heart, but I'll wager my pinstripe suit there's something phony about this tintype.
Town Sheriff: Such as?

Link to the youtube video excerpt (12 seconds):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWz6ash9z_g

 

[teechar]

This is what I think he says. But maybe I misheard the last word and it's not a harem but "a hair room" or "a heron" (a type of large water-bird).

It's not a bird; it's not a room; he does indeed say "harem".

If it were "a harem", I guess he [STRIKE]doesn't mean it literally, that he would be[/STRIKE] is speaking figuratively, not literally.

I agree. The reference is to a major (rewarding) breakthrough.

Otherwise, it would be very politically incorrect.

:shock: It would be tantamount to slavery, which in the US has been outlawed for more than a couple of centuries.

 

[GoesStation]

I'm sure he doesn't say "harem". It wouldn't make sense. I can't make out what he does say, though.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I'm sure he doesn't say "harem". It wouldn't make sense. I can't make out what he does say, though.

It sounds like "harem," and it makes sense to me: Find an error and win yourself a kewpie doll. Win yourself a Bahamas vacation. Win yourself a harem.

It's just ordinary sexist guy banter. Jane Austin said she never wrote a scene with men and no women because she had no idea what men talked about when women weren't around.

She should've watched more TV.

 

[PeterCW]

It sounds like "harem," and it makes sense to me: Find an error and win yourself a kewpie doll. Win yourself a Bahamas vacation. Win yourself a harem.

It's just ordinary sexist guy banter. Jane Austin said she never wrote a scene with men and no women because she had no idea what men talked about when women weren't around.

She should've watched more TV.

I agree, it is the American pronunciation of "harem".

 

[gamboler]

I agree with Charlie Bernstein and PeterCW. This guy is a typical sexist cop of the 1940's. It should be "harem". Look what he says ten minutes later:

"That's right, pal, when you need a laugh, stick close to a detective or beat your wife. Ha ha!"​

 

[GoesStation]

I agree, it is the American pronunciation of "harem".

It doesn't sound like that to this American. The final sound I hear is [o].

 

[probus]

I think he says "Win yourself a hair roller." He's making an insulting little joke because in spite of his receding hairline the sherrif's hair is longish according to the fashion of the day.

 

[GoesStation]

There aren't enough syllables for "roller". It sounds like "win yourself a 'hair-oh'". I can only guess that previous context would tell us what he means. It could be a fictional brand-name product, for instance.

 

[probus]

Fair enough. I had told myself he swallowed the final syllable, but I wasn't entirely convinced. But harem makes no sense at all. So now I think he says "hair roll". See this web page on how to create a retro hair roll:

https://www.schwarzkopf.com/en/hair-styling/40s-hairstyles/hair-rolls.html

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Fair enough. I had told myself he swallowed the final syllable, but I wasn't entirely convinced. But harem makes no sense at all. So now I think he says "hair roll". See this web page on how to create a retro hair roll:

I tried again. It still sounds like "harem" to me. But . . . hair roll? Maybe he's saying "egg roll." Now, that would make sense. Nothing like winning an egg roll!

 

[GoesStation]

I think it's a word that's established as context earlier in the film.

 

[jutfrank]

I'm sure I can hear a distinct /m/ sound at the end of the word. It sounds like harem to me.

 

[SoothingDave]

Yes, he says "win a harem." He's talking in that weird way that detectives always seem to talk in old movies.

 

[Tdol]

I played it several times and could only hear harem. It did sound odd, but it was all I could hear.

 

[jutfrank]

Look at the title of the short story shown here: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?605497

 

[GoesStation]

Look at the title of the short story shown here: http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?605497

All right, I give up. I guess I'll have to read the story. :-(

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

All right, I give up. I guess I'll have to read the story. :-(

Better you than me!

 

[Tdol]

All right, I give up. I guess I'll have to read the story. :-(

Keep us posted. ;-)

 

[PeterCW]

It doesn't sound like that to this American. The final sound I hear is [o].

But the fist syllable is distinctively American ("hair" not "har") and the second is still a short vowel not the long "ee" sound used in English.