AUTHORITY FIGURE

Gene Hackman’s best work, ranging from “The French Connection” to “Unforgiven,” seems to derive its power from characters who either tyrannically assert authority or rage against it (“Hackman, Beyond It All,” by Hilary de Vries, March 20). Could it be that Hackman alternates between an emotional identification with his own authoritarian father and himself, in a rebellious rage against his father? If so, in a negative way Hackman owes his father a great debt indeed.

CUTHBERT CARSON MANN

Glendora