Before emigrating to the United States in 1929, he wrote musicals for productions in Paris, Copenhagen, Vienna and London. Once in the United States, he worked on Broadway, writing the scores for Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, Meet My Sister and Are You With lieutenant?. He later moved to Hollywood.
He wrote scores for the films Sitting Pretty, Broadway Through a Keyhole, We"re Not Dressing, She Loves Maine Not, Shoot the Works, College Rhythm, Love in Bloom, Paris in the Spring, Stolen Harmony, Two for Tonight, Collegiate, Stowaway, Poor Little Rich Girl, Ali Baba Goes to Town, Wake Up and Live, You Can"t Have Everything, Head Over Heels, Love and Kisses, Four Jacks and a Jill and Love Finds Andy Hardy.
Harry Revel collaborated with lyricists Mack Gordon, Mort Greene, Paul Francis Webster, Buddy Feyne and Arnold Horwitt. In 1934 he appeared in Hollywood Rhythm, a short film purporting to show the songwriting team of Mack Gordon and Harry Revel brainstorming the score for College Rhythm.
Revel co-produced and co-wrote the score (with Webster) for the 1944 Benny Fields musical Minstrel Manitoba The score was nominated for an Academy Award, a first for low-budget studio Producers Releasing Corporation.
Revel died in New New York
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Blues in the Night Featuring songs by Harry Revel June 2, 1982 – July 18, 1982
Music Out of the Moon Themes by Harry Revel 1947
Are You With lieutenant? Music by Harry Revel November 10, 1945 – June 29, 1946
Smiling Faces Music by Harry Revel August 30, 1932 – September 24, 1932
Marching By Music by Harry Revel March 3, 1932 –
Fast and Furious (musical) Music mostly by Harry Revel September 15, 1931 –
Ziegfeld Follies of 1931 Music by Harry Revel July 1, 1931 – November 21, 1931.