Known For
Sound
Born
Apr 03, 1905
Died
Aug 23, 1986
Place of Birth
Reed, Oklahoma, USA
Credits
47 titles
Marvin Hatley
Biography
Thomas Marvin Hatley professionally known simply as Marvin Hatley, was an American film composer and musical director, best known for his work for the Hal Roach studio from 1929 until 1940. Hatley wrote many of the musical cues appearing in the Our Gang, Laurel and Hardy, and Charley Chase films. His most memorable composition is "Dance of the Cuckoos"(also known as "Ku-Ku", or "The Cookoo Song"), which serves as Laurel and Hardy's theme song. He was also the "player piano" (performing off-screen) in The Music Box (1932). His work in Laurel and Hardy's films Way Out West and Block-Heads earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Score. In 1939, Hatley was fired from the Roach studio. At the insistence of Stan Laurel, however, he did return to score one final Laurel & Hardy film, Saps at Sea. Hatley went on to become a lounge pianist, and often remarked that he earned more money in that career than during his days at the Roach studio. Marvin Hatley was a native of Reed, Oklahoma. He died on August 23, 1986 in Hollywood, California.
Known For
Filmography
Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy
Self
Hollywood and Vine
Original Music Composer
Uncle Joe
Bandleader
A Chump at Oxford
Music
Captain Fury
Original Music Composer
Topper Takes a Trip
Music Supervisor
There Goes My Heart
Original Music Composer
Block-Heads
Music Director
Merrily We Live
Original Music Composer
Our Gang Follies of 1938
Music Director
Topper
Original Music Composer
Pick a Star
Music
Nobody's Baby
Music
Way Out West
Original Music Composer
General Spanky
Original Music Composer
Kelly the Second
Music
Arbor Day
Music
The Pinch Singer
Conductor
Bonnie Scotland
Music
Sons of the Desert
Music
Busy Bodies
Music
Sherman Said It
Soldier
Midsummer Mush
Member of Camping Trio
The Midnight Patrol
Music
Arabian Tights
Musician - The Ranch Boys (uncredited)
Me and My Pal
Music
Maids a la Mode
Pianist (uncredited)
Twice Two
Music
Towed in a Hole
Music
Their First Mistake
Music
Pack Up Your Troubles
Music
Scram!
Music
County Hospital
Music
The Chimp
Music
The Music Box
Original Music Composer
The Tabasco Kid
Cowboy
Helpmates
Original Music Composer
One Good Turn
Original Music Composer
Come Clean
Original Music Composer
Pardon Us
Music
Our Wife
Music
Rough Seas
Pvt. Marvin Hatley
Another Fine Mess
Original Music Composer
Teacher's Pet
Music Director
Hog Wild
Music
Brats
Original Music Composer
Shivering Shakespeare
Musician (uncredited)