Marvin Hatley

Marvin Hatley

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.

Sound

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

Original Music Composer

1938

Block-Heads
Movie

Music Director

1938

Merrily We Live
Movie

Original Music Composer

1938

Merrily We Live
Movie

Music Director

1937

Topper
Movie

Original Music Composer

1937

Way Out West
Movie

Original Music Composer

1936

General Spanky
Movie

Original Music Composer

1932

1932

The Music Box
Movie

Original Music Composer

1932

Helpmates
Movie

Original Music Composer

1931

One Good Turn
Movie

Original Music Composer

1931

Come Clean
Movie

Original Music Composer

1931

1930

Another Fine Mess
Movie

Original Music Composer

1930

1930

Brats
Movie

Original Music Composer

Acting

Infos

Full Name
Marvin Hatley
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
4/3/1905
Date of Death
8/23/1986
Also Known As

T. Marvin Hatley

The Ranch Boys