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Marvin Hatley

Marvin Hatley

Known For Sound
Birthday Apr 03, 1905
Died Aug 23, 1986 (81)
Birthplace Reed, Oklahoma, USA
Popularity 0.1 (history)
Updated Aug 08, 2025 (Update)
Entry Date Apr 27, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
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. H ... is 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.

Known For

Filmography

Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe

1941

as Bandleader

Midsummer Mush

Midsummer Mush

1933

as Member of Camping Trio

Sherman Said It

Sherman Said It

1933

as Soldier

Maids a la Mode

Maids a la Mode

1933

as Pianist (uncredited)

Arabian Tights

Arabian Tights

1933

as Musician - The Ranch Boys (uncredited)

The Tabasco Kid

The Tabasco Kid

1932

as Cowboy

Rough Seas

Rough Seas

1931

as Pvt. Marvin Hatley

Shivering Shakespeare

Shivering Shakespeare

1930

as Musician (uncredited)

Hollywood and Vine

Hollywood and Vine

1945

Original Music Composer

Captain Fury

Captain Fury

1939

Original Music Composer

Block-Heads

Block-Heads

1938

Music Director, Original Music Composer

Topper Takes a Trip

Topper Takes a Trip

1938

Music Supervisor

Merrily We Live

Merrily We Live

1938

Music Director, Original Music Composer

Topper

Topper

1937

Original Music Composer

Way Out West

Way Out West

1937

Original Music Composer

Nobody's Baby

Nobody's Baby

1937

Music

Arbor Day

Arbor Day

1936

Music

Kelly the Second

Kelly the Second

1936

Music

General Spanky

General Spanky

1936

Original Music Composer

Twice Two

Twice Two

1933

Music

Sons of the Desert

Sons of the Desert

1933

Music

Me and My Pal

Me and My Pal

1933

Music

The Midnight Patrol

The Midnight Patrol

1933

Music

Busy Bodies

Busy Bodies

1933

Music

The Music Box

The Music Box

1932

Original Music Composer

County Hospital

County Hospital

1932

Music

Towed in a Hole

Towed in a Hole

1932

Music

The Chimp

The Chimp

1932

Music

Scram!

Scram!

1932

Music

Helpmates

Helpmates

1932

Original Music Composer

Their First Mistake

Their First Mistake

1932

Music

Pardon Us

Pardon Us

1931

Music

One Good Turn

One Good Turn

1931

Original Music Composer

Come Clean

Come Clean

1931

Original Music Composer

Our Wife

Our Wife

1931

Music

Brats

Brats

1930

Original Music Composer

Hog Wild

Hog Wild

1930

Music

Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet

1930

Music Director

Another Fine Mess

Another Fine Mess

1930

Original Music Composer

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Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

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Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 2 4 1
2024 7 2 5 1
2024 8 2 6 1
2024 9 2 3 1
2024 10 1 2 1
2024 11 1 1 1
2024 12 1 1 1
2025 1 2 3 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 0 1 0

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