DeLuise still smiling about Brooks' films

When it comes to laughter, few movie directors are as expert at itas the incomparable Mel Brooks. You can relive all the laughs in therecently released "Mel Brooks Box Set Collection," (20th CenturyFox), which includes eight Brooks classics: "Blazing Saddles," "YoungFrankenstein," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "To Be or Not to Be,""History of the World, Part 1," the often overlooked "The TwelveChairs" and for the first time on DVD, both "Silent Movie" and "HighAnxiety."

Comedian, book author, radio talk show host and chefextraordinaire Dom DeLuise, who first worked with Brooks in 1970's"The Twelve Chairs" (co-starring Ron Moody and a dashing young FrankLangella), talked to the Sun-Times about movies, laughter andmeatballs.

Q. What's it like doing a film with Mel Brooks?

A. Working with Mel Brooks is different. Everyone shouldexperience it. You never get complacent on his set. The first day [on"The Twelve Chairs"], Mel came on the set and said, "Roll 'em,action!" Now we actors had rehearsed a lot. So Mel stops filming andsays to everyone, "Garbage! You're giving me garbage!" So I went overto Frank [Langella] and told him to throw out everything we hadrehearsed and just be spontaneous. We did it that way and Mel stopsand says, "I love you guys!" He embraced us and gave us a kiss.Between "garbage" and "I love you," I thought I was gonna die.

Q. You filmed "Twelve Chairs" in Yugoslavia, right?

A. Yes, we were there for six months and we had wonderful time. Welaughed so much. I think I only got $15,000 for the movie. I'm gonnagive them $1,000 back.

Q. Which Brooks collaboration is closest to your heart?

A. I know this is crazy, but in "The 12 Chairs" I had the most funbecause it was my first big movie. I think my salary was 35 cents aday in Yugoslavian currency, but I had a great time. And FatherFyodor was a pretty wonderful role.

Q. Who was your favorite co-star in the Brooks films?

A. Madeline Kahn and Gene Wilder. I worked twice with Madeline andI adored her. She made me feel so special because she'd always say,"I love working with you." Gene was wonderful. I just loved him.

Q. You're quite the chef and quite the cookbook author. How muchdo you love food?

A. I'm gonna make all kinds of things for a luncheon I'm havingtomorrow here at the house. I make about 200 meatballs at a time, butI have everybody helping in the kitchen when they come over. Here,write this down. Two pounds of ground turkey, four eggs, a wholebunch of parsley, one or two onions, two carrots chopped up, gratedcheese and then milk, and a cup of bread crumbs. That comes out to bea great meatball. You'll never know that there's onion, parsley andcarrots in there because they blend in so nicely.

Q. What brings you more joy, cooking or acting?

A. We just spent 20 minutes talking recipes. What do you think?