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.
Midsummer Mush
(Member of Camping Trio)
Uncle Joe
(Bandleader)
Rough Seas
(Pvt. Marvin Hatley)
Maids a la Mode
(Pianist (uncredited))
Shivering Shakespeare
(Musician (uncredited))
Arabian Tights
(Musician - The Ranch Boys (uncredited))
The Tabasco Kid
(Cowboy)
Omnibus - Cuckoo: A Celebration of Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy
(Himself)
Sherman Said It
(Soldier)
The Pinch Singer
(Conductor)
Kelly the Second
(Music)
Pack Up Your Troubles
(Music)
Nobody's Baby
(Music)
Arbor Day
(Music)
Captain Fury
(Original Music Composer)
Hog Wild
(Music)
One Good Turn
(Original Music Composer)
Come Clean
(Original Music Composer)
Brats
(Original Music Composer)
Helpmates
(Original Music Composer)
Twice Two
(Music)
The Chimp
(Music)
Towed in a Hole
(Music)
Scram!
(Music)
Their First Mistake
(Music)
County Hospital
(Music)
Me and My Pal
(Music)
The Midnight Patrol
(Music)
Busy Bodies
(Music)
Another Fine Mess
(Original Music Composer)
Topper Takes a Trip
(Music Supervisor)
The Music Box
(Original Music Composer)
Topper
(Original Music Composer)
Our Wife
(Music)
Hollywood and Vine
(Original Music Composer)
Merrily We Live
(Original Music Composer)
Block-Heads
(Music Director)
Way Out West
(Original Music Composer)
Teacher's Pet
(Music Director)
There Goes My Heart
(Original Music Composer)
Block-Heads
(Original Music Composer)
Pardon Us
(Music)
General Spanky
(Original Music Composer)
Sons of the Desert
(Music)
Merrily We Live
(Music Director)
Our Gang Follies of 1938
(Music Director)