Marvin Hatley
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marvin Hatley professionally known simply as Marvin Hatley, was an American
film
composer
and music
al 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 "The Cookoo Song" (also known as "Ku-Ku", or "Dance of the Cookoos"), 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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al director, best known for his work for the Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
studio from 1929 until 1940.
Hatley wrote many of the musical cues appearing in the Our Gang
Our Gang
Our Gang, also known as The Little Rascals or Hal Roach's Rascals, was a series of American comedy short films about a group of poor neighborhood children and the adventures they had together. Created by comedy producer Hal Roach, the series is noted for showing children behaving in a relatively...
, Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy
Laurel and Hardy were one of the most popular and critically acclaimed comedy double acts of the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema...
, and Charley Chase
Charley Chase
Charley Chase was an American comedian, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his work in Hal Roach short film comedies...
films. His most memorable composition is "The Cookoo Song" (also known as "Ku-Ku", or "Dance of the Cookoos"), 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
Way Out West (1937 film)
Way Out West is a Laurel and Hardy comedy film released in 1937. It was directed by James W. Horne, produced by Stan Laurel and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.-Plot:...
and Block-Heads
Block-Heads
Block-Heads is a 1938 comedy film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, produced by Hal Roach Studios for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film, a reworking of elements from the Laurel and Hardy shorts We Faw Down and Unaccustomed As We Are , was Roach's final film for MGM, and is remembered as one of...
earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Score
Academy Award for Best Original Score
The Academy Award for Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.-Superlatives:...
.
In 1939, Hatley was fired from the Roach studio. At the insistence of Stan Laurel
Stan Laurel
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Jefferson , better known as Stan Laurel, was an English comic actor, writer and film director, famous as the first half of the comedy team Laurel and Hardy. His film acting career stretched between 1917 and 1951 and included a starring role in the Academy Award winning film...
, however, he did return to score one final Laurel & Hardy film, Saps at Sea
Saps at Sea
Saps at Sea is a 1940 American film directed by Gordon Douglas, distributed by United Artists, and Laurel and Hardy's last film produced by Hal Roach Studio.- Plot :...
. 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
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. He died on August 23, 1986 in Hollywood, California.