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Composer

Marvin Hatley

Born April 3, 1905 in Reed, Oklahoma, USADied August 23, 198637 films

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.

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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.

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The best way into Marvin Hatley's work
The Music Box posterFirst watchThe Music Box19327.5The Laurel & Hardy Moving Co. have a challenging job on their hands (and backs): hauling a player piano up a monumental flight of stairs to Prof. von Schwarzenhoffen's house.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Sons of the Desert poster7.1Sons of the Desert1933Way Out West poster7.1Way Out West1937Block-Heads poster7.0Block-Heads1938Busy Bodies poster7.3Busy Bodies1933Topper poster6.7Topper1937A Chump at Oxford poster6.9A Chump at Oxford1940Helpmates poster7.3Helpmates1932Towed in a Hole poster7.0Towed in a Hole1932

Filmography

37 films
  1. 1945Hollywood and VineOriginal Music Composer
  2. 1940A Chump at OxfordMusic
  3. 1939Captain FuryOriginal Music Composer
  4. 1938Topper Takes a TripMusic Supervisor
  5. 1938There Goes My HeartOriginal Music Composer
  6. 1938Block-HeadsMusic Director
  7. 1938Merrily We LiveOriginal Music Composer
  8. 1937Our Gang Follies of 1938Music Director
  9. 1937TopperOriginal Music Composer
  10. 1937Pick a StarMusic
  11. 1937Nobody's BabyMusic
  12. 1937Way Out WestOriginal Music Composer
  13. 1936General SpankyOriginal Music Composer
  14. 1936Kelly the SecondMusic
  15. 1936Arbor DayMusic
  16. 1935Bonnie ScotlandMusic
  17. 1933Sons of the DesertMusic
  18. 1933Busy BodiesMusic
  19. 1933The Midnight PatrolMusic
  20. 1933Me and My PalMusic
  21. 1933Twice TwoMusic
  22. 1932Towed in a HoleMusic
  23. 1932Their First MistakeMusic
  24. 1932Pack Up Your TroublesMusic
  25. 1932Scram!Music
  26. 1932County HospitalMusic
  27. 1932The ChimpMusic
  28. 1932The Music BoxOriginal Music Composer
  29. 1932HelpmatesOriginal Music Composer
  30. 1931One Good TurnOriginal Music Composer
  31. 1931Come CleanOriginal Music Composer
  32. 1931Pardon UsMusic
  33. 1931Our WifeMusic
  34. 1930Another Fine MessOriginal Music Composer
  35. 1930Teacher's PetMusic Director
  36. 1930Hog WildMusic
  37. 1930BratsOriginal Music Composer