MELLIFLUOUS MEL

One aspect which I missed in Patrick Goldstein’s article on Mel Brooks (“Blazing Heavens,” March 8) was the flip side of Brooks’ avowed hatred of death: his sincere respect for the essential value of life.

I had one day of work on Brooks’ “Spaceballs.” He needed bodies, and I needed a day’s work to meet the minimum yearly required earnings for medical insurance coverage for my family. He saw to it that I got the day’s work before the year was over. When I mentioned this thoughtfulness to one of Brooks’ associates on the movie, he remarked that I was one of many remembered with similar favors.

Years in the business and recent events in the news have taught me to recognize unusual care and thoughtfulness when I see it. Mel Brooks is much more than a talented and energetic funny man.

TED SOREL

Beverly Hills