Marvin Hatley

Known for SoundBorn 1905-04-03Died 1986-08-23Reed, 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 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.Read more

Movies & web series

Sherman Said It

The Pinch Singer

Midsummer Mush

The Music Box

There Goes My Heart

Busy Bodies

Helpmates

Come Clean

Way Out West

Uncle Joe

Our Wife

Sons of the Desert

Scram!

Kelly the Second

Block-Heads

Arabian Tights

The Tabasco Kid

Rough Seas

A Chump at Oxford

Towed in a Hole

Merrily We Live

One Good Turn

Hog Wild

Another Fine Mess

Pack Up Your Troubles

County Hospital

Brats

Topper

Twice Two

Topper Takes a Trip

Teacher's Pet

Bonnie Scotland

The Midnight Patrol

Me and My Pal

The Chimp

Pardon Us

Their First Mistake

Our Gang Follies of 1938

Arbor Day

Nobody's Baby

Shivering Shakespeare

General Spanky

Captain Fury

Pick a Star

Hollywood and Vine

Maids a la Mode

Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy