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Marvin Hatley(1905-1986)

  • Music Department
  • Composer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Composer, conductor and author, educated at UCLA, a staff pianist for KFWB in Hollywood for four years, then to vaudeville for one year. Two years after joining the Hal Roach Studios, he took over its music department, which he directed for ten years. Joining ASCAP in 1952, his most-popular composition is the Laurel and Hardy theme, "Dance of The Cuckoos," which Hatley always spelled "Ku-Ku".
BornApril 3, 1905
DiedAugust 23, 1986(81)
BornApril 3, 1905
DiedAugust 23, 1986(81)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • Nominated for 3 Oscars
    • 3 nominations total

Known for

Virginia Bruce, Patsy Kelly, Fredric March, and Alan Mowbray in There Goes My Heart (1938)
There Goes My Heart
6.6
  • Music Department
  • 1938
John C. Reilly, Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson, and Nina Arianda in Stan & Ollie (2018)
Stan & Ollie
7.2
  • Soundtrack
  • 2018
Oliver Hardy, Stan Laurel, Sharon Lynn, and Hal Roach in Way Out West (1937)
Way Out West
7.6
  • Music Department(uncredited)
  • 1937
Oliver Hardy, John G. Blystone, Patricia Ellis, James Finlayson, Billy Gilbert, Minna Gombell, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Block-Heads (1938)
Block-Heads
7.5
  • Music Department
  • 1938

Credits

IMDbPro

Music Department

  • Arjen Rooseboom, Ronnie Woldman, Michael Tiedtke, Tom Dekker, Sander Timmerman, Miranda Hartgers, Radboud Ruis, Clint Groenewegen, Kim Dekker, Tijn Dekker, Mirte Broers, Allard Warnas, Imme Gerritsen, Sens Gerritsen, Diny Blümers, and Melina IJtsma in Kameleon op Schattenjacht (2023)
    Kameleon op Schattenjacht
    Short
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2023
  • Arjen Rooseboom, Ronnie Woldman, Sem van der Horst, Michael Tiedtke, Tom Dekker, Sander Timmerman, Miranda Hartgers, Jitse Zandhuis, Jelte Jellema, Theo Douma, Ruud van de Leur, Nop de Graaf, Jan Stedehouder, Allard Warnas, Imme Gerritsen, and Sens Gerritsen in Kameleon en het Watermonster (2022)
    Kameleon en het Watermonster
    Short
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2022
  • Arjen Rooseboom, Aad van Toor, Bas van Toor, and Leonie van Dijk in Van Mini Tot Honda (2012)
    Van Mini Tot Honda
    Short
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2012
  • The Pigeon Detectives with Thomas Burt
    Short
    • stock music
    • 2011
  • Arjen Rooseboom, Ciska Bakker, Lise Rietveld, Steffi de Haan, Maartje Michelbrink, Dennis Bus, Patrick Snijder, Maartje van der Meij, Rosan Schrave, and Annemarijn Lukassen in De Buik Vol (2010)
    De Buik Vol
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2010
  • Twee Handen Op Een Buik (2007)
    Twee Handen Op Een Buik
    Video
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2007
  • Jos van der Donk, Koen van der Donk, Jan Dekens, and Sietse Heslinga in Kameleon als schokkend doelwit (2007)
    Kameleon als schokkend doelwit
    6.4
    Video
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2007
  • Arjen Rooseboom, Jos van der Donk, Koen van der Donk, Henk Schalk, Nop de Graaf, Cees de Jong, Jan Stedehouder, Jan Dekens, Bert-Jan Bolwijn, Rein van Zeeland, and Michael Bouwers in Kameleon en de dubbelganger (2005)
    Kameleon en de dubbelganger
    Video
    • composer: 'Laurel & Hardy'-themes
    • 2005
  • Arjen Rooseboom, Jos van der Donk, Koen van der Donk, Yorrin Kootstra, Anouk van der Steen, Fabienne Peters, Stephan Peters, and Jeffrey van Veen in Drie Gasten en een Videocamera (2005)
    Drie Gasten en een Videocamera
    Video
    • composer: themes
    • 2005
  • Dale Belding, Don Castle, Virginia Grey, Eilene Janssen, Ardda Lynwood, Peter Miles, and Larry Olsen in Who Killed 'Doc' Robbin? (1948)
    Who Killed 'Doc' Robbin?
    4.6
    • composer: stock music (uncredited)
    • 1948
  • Little Annie Rooney
    Short
    • musical director
    • 1941
  • Rose Hobart and Michael Whalen in I'll Sell My Life (1941)
    I'll Sell My Life
    5.5
    • musical director
    • 1941
  • Patsy Kelly, Leonid Kinskey, Victor McLaglen, Dennis O'Keefe, Zasu Pitts, and Marjorie Woodworth in Broadway Limited (1941)
    Broadway Limited
    5.8
    • musical director
    • 1941
  • Oliver Hardy, Gordon Douglas, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Saps at Sea (1940)
    Saps at Sea
    7.1
    • musical arrangements
    • orchestra conductor (uncredited, uncredited)
    • 1940
  • Oliver Hardy, Reginald Gardiner, Stan Laurel, Boris Morros, Jean Parker, and A. Edward Sutherland in The Flying Deuces (1939)
    The Flying Deuces
    6.7
    • composer: theme music (uncredited)
    • 1939

Composer

  • James Ellison, Wanda McKay, Franklin Pangborn, and Daisy in Hollywood and Vine (1945)
    Hollywood and Vine
    5.5
    • Composer
    • 1945
  • Rose Hobart and Michael Whalen in I'll Sell My Life (1941)
    I'll Sell My Life
    5.5
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1941
  • Patsy Kelly, Leonid Kinskey, Victor McLaglen, Dennis O'Keefe, Zasu Pitts, and Marjorie Woodworth in Broadway Limited (1941)
    Broadway Limited
    5.8
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1941
  • Philip Van Zandt and H.B. Warner in City of Missing Girls (1941)
    City of Missing Girls
    4.9
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1941
  • Oliver Hardy, Gordon Douglas, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Saps at Sea (1940)
    Saps at Sea
    7.1
    • musical score
    • 1940
  • Oliver Hardy, Harry Langdon, Felix Adler, Eddie Borden, Alfred J. Goulding, Forrester Harvey, Stan Laurel, Wilfred Lucas, Forbes Murray, Hal Roach, and Charley Rogers in A Chump at Oxford (1940)
    A Chump at Oxford
    7.2
    • musical score
    • 1940
  • Captain Fury (1939)
    Captain Fury
    6.1
    • Composer
    • 1939
  • Zenobia (1939)
    Zenobia
    6.0
    • musical score
    • 1939
  • Virginia Bruce, Patsy Kelly, Fredric March, and Alan Mowbray in There Goes My Heart (1938)
    There Goes My Heart
    6.6
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1938
  • Oliver Hardy, John G. Blystone, Patricia Ellis, James Finlayson, Billy Gilbert, Minna Gombell, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Block-Heads (1938)
    Block-Heads
    7.5
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1938
  • Oliver Hardy, Felix Adler, Eric Blore, John G. Blystone, Richard Flournoy, Walter Woolf King, Stan Laurel, Charlie Melson, Grete Natzler, Jean Negulesco, James Parrott, Hal Roach, and Charley Rogers in Swiss Miss (1938)
    Swiss Miss
    6.6
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1938
  • Brian Aherne and Constance Bennett in Merrily We Live (1938)
    Merrily We Live
    7.3
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1938
  • Dix Davis, Tim Davis, Paul Hilton, Darla Hood, George 'Spanky' McFarland, Raymond Rayhill Powell, Norman Salling, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Rhoda Williams, and Dorothy Heinrichs in Our Gang Follies of 1938 (1937)
    Our Gang Follies of 1938
    7.2
    Short
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1937
  • Darla Hood, Eugene 'Porky' Lee, George 'Spanky' McFarland, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Billie 'Buckwheat' Thomas, and Pete the Dog in The Pigskin Palooka (1937)
    The Pigskin Palooka
    7.3
    Short
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1937
  • Cary Grant, Constance Bennett, Billie Burke, Alan Mowbray, and Roland Young in Topper (1937)
    Topper
    7.2
    • Composer (uncredited)
    • 1937

Actor

  • Gale Storm and Slim Summerville in Uncle Joe (1941)
    Uncle Joe
    6.0
    • Bandleader Marvin Hartley
    • 1941
  • Oliver Hardy, Mischa Auer, Jack Haley, Patsy Kelly, Stan Laurel, Rosina Lawrence, and Lyda Roberti in Pick a Star (1937)
    Pick a Star
    5.4
    • Oboe player (uncredited)
    • 1937
  • Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in Our Relations (1936)
    Our Relations
    7.3
    • Denker's Beer Garden
    • Nightclub Customer (uncredited)
    • 1936
  • Scotty Beckett, George 'Spanky' McFarland, Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer, Billie 'Buckwheat' Thomas, and Pete the Dog in The Lucky Corner (1936)
    The Lucky Corner
    7.2
    Short
    • Piano player (offscreen) (uncredited)
    • 1936
  • Darla Hood, Eugene 'Porky' Lee, George 'Spanky' McFarland, and Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer in The Pinch Singer (1936)
    The Pinch Singer
    6.8
    Short
    • Marvin, music conductor
    • 1936
  • Oliver Hardy, June Lang, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Bonnie Scotland (1935)
    Bonnie Scotland
    6.7
    • Accordionist (uncredited)
    • 1935
  • Scotty Beckett and George 'Spanky' McFarland in Mike Fright (1934)
    Mike Fright
    7.4
    Short
    • Piano Player
    • 1934
  • Oliver Hardy, Charley Chase, Stan Laurel, and Hal Roach in Sons of the Desert (1933)
    Sons of the Desert
    7.5
    • Club Pianist (uncredited)
    • 1933
  • Charley Chase in Luncheon at Twelve (1933)
    Luncheon at Twelve
    6.5
    Short
    • Marv (as The Ranch Boys)
    • 1933
  • Jimmie Adams, Charley Chase, Frank Gage, Marvin Hatley, Betty Mack, and Hal Roach in Midsummer Mush (1933)
    Midsummer Mush
    6.5
    Short
    • Member of Camping Trio
    • 1933
  • Charley Chase and Nita Pike in Sherman Said It (1933)
    Sherman Said It
    6.4
    Short
    • Soldier
    • Musician
    • 1933
  • Charley Chase, Muriel Evans, Carlton Griffin, and Hal Roach in Arabian Tights (1933)
    Arabian Tights
    6.1
    Short
    • Musician - The Ranch Boys (uncredited)
    • 1933
  • Thelma Todd in Maids a la Mode (1933)
    Maids a la Mode
    6.8
    Short
    • Pianist (uncredited)
    • 1933
  • Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel in Pack Up Your Troubles (1932)
    Pack Up Your Troubles
    7.2
    • Doughboy (uncredited)
    • 1932
  • Wild Babies!
    5.4
    Short
    • Pianist (uncredited)
    • 1932

Personal details

  • Alternative names
    • T. Marvin Hatley
  • Height
    • 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)
  • Born
    • April 3, 1905
    • Reed, Oklahoma, USA
  • Died
    • August 23, 1986
    • Hollywood, California, USA(cancer)
  • Spouse
    • Josephine CannellaJuly 20, 1927 - January 15, 1980 (her death)

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Accomplished composer and musician at Hal Roach studios during the 1930s; he wrote Laurel & Hardy's legendary signature tune 'The Cuckoo Song'.

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