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.
Filmography
all 44
Movies 44
self 2
Director 2
Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy (1974)
Hollywood and Vine (1945)
Uncle Joe (1941)
Saps at Sea (1940)
A Chump at Oxford (1940)
The Flying Deuces (1939)
Captain Fury (1939)
Topper Takes a Trip (1938)
Block-Heads (1938)
Merrily We Live (1938)
Topper (1937)
Nobody's Baby (1937)
Way Out West (1937)
General Spanky (1936)
Kelly the Second (1936)
Arbor Day (1936)
Sons of the Desert (1933)
Luncheon at Twelve (1933)
Busy Bodies (1933)
Sherman Said It (1933)
Midsummer Mush (1933)
The Midnight Patrol (1933)
Arabian Tights (1933)
Me and My Pal (1933)
Maids a la Mode (1933)
Twice Two (1933)
Towed in a Hole (1932)
Their First Mistake (1932)
Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
Scram! (1932)
County Hospital (1932)
The Chimp (1932)
The Music Box (1932)
The Tabasco Kid (1932)
Helpmates (1932)
One Good Turn (1931)
Come Clean (1931)
Pardon Us (1931)
Our Wife (1931)
Rough Seas (1931)
Another Fine Mess (1930)
Hog Wild (1930)
Brats (1930)
Shivering Shakespeare (1930)
Ratings
Information
Known ForSound
GenderMale
Birthday1905-04-03
Deathday1986-08-23 (81 years old)
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsT. Marvin Hatley, The Ranch Boys
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