Person
Marvin Hatley
Reed, Oklahoma, USA
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 u…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
- 1974
-
1945
Hollywood and Vine
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1941
Uncle Joe
Movie Bandleader
-
1940
A Chump at Oxford
Movie Music
-
1939
Captain Fury
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1938
Topper Takes a Trip
Movie Music Supervisor
-
1938
There Goes My Heart
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1938
Block-Heads
Movie Music Director
-
1938
Merrily We Live
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1937
Our Gang Follies of 1938
Movie Music Director
-
1937
Topper
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1937
Pick a Star
Movie Music
-
1937
Nobody's Baby
Movie Music
-
1937
Way Out West
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1936
General Spanky
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1936
Kelly the Second
Movie Music
More credits
-
1936
Arbor Day
Movie Music
-
1936
The Pinch Singer
Movie Conductor
-
1935
Bonnie Scotland
Movie Music
-
1933
Sons of the Desert
Movie Music
-
1933
Busy Bodies
Movie Music
-
1933
Sherman Said It
Movie Soldier
-
1933
Midsummer Mush
Movie Member of Camping Trio
-
1933
The Midnight Patrol
Movie Music
-
1933
Arabian Tights
Movie Musician - The Ranch Boys (uncredited)
-
1933
Me and My Pal
Movie Music
-
1933
Maids a la Mode
Movie Pianist (uncredited)
-
1933
Twice Two
Movie Music
-
1932
Towed in a Hole
Movie Music
-
1932
Their First Mistake
Movie Music
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1932
Pack Up Your Troubles
Movie Music
-
1932
Scram!
Movie Music
-
1932
County Hospital
Movie Music
-
1932
The Chimp
Movie Music
-
1932
The Music Box
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1932
The Tabasco Kid
Movie Cowboy
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1932
Helpmates
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1931
One Good Turn
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1931
Come Clean
Movie Original Music Composer
-
1931
Pardon Us
Movie Music
