Only a wily veteran like Charlton Heston would anticipate who the real star of the family adventure movie, Alaska, is.

That would be the baby polar bear, Cubby, featured in his son Fraser's film, and not dear old dad's co-starring turn as the game-hunting villain.

The film, opening Wednesday, stars 13-year-old Thora Birch, best known as Harrison Ford's daughter in Patriot Games and Clear And Present Danger, and 15-year-old Vincent Kartheiser, who had co-starring roles in Little Big League and Indian In The Cupboard.

In Alaska, they play two kids who trek through the wilderness in search of their plane-wrecked pilot father. Along the way, they cross paths with Heston's bad guy and the adorable bear cub.

And the scene stealer is?

"You just can't compete with an animal like that," says Heston chuckling. "I know.

"But I've also worked with some cute little female animals who were a lot more trouble."

Now he's laughing hard as he adds: "But that's another book."

The sly promotional moment by the 74-year-old Ben-Hur Oscar winner is a reference to his well-received autobiographical book, In The Arena, released last year.

Heston's joking about a tell-all follow up, admitting that a man who has been married to the same woman for over 50 years doesn't live the sort of lifestyle that would make for interesting gossip.

Besides, he'd rather talk about son Fraser's film, which stars the cuddly furball and some dramatic mountainous vistas.

"I was only there for a few days in two or three chunks at a time, but the cast and crew were there from early July and then into October when the bad weather hit," says Heston, referring to the location shooting in Alaska, B.C. and Baffin Island. "It was a very difficult shoot."

Nothing his son couldn't handle, and that includes `the ol' man.'

"Well, in the first place he's directed films with names," says the proud father, whose son made his directorial debut with Needful Things, starring Ed Harris.

"And I must say that by this time in my career most of my directors are younger and, shall we say, greener in reputation, so it was nice to have someone around that you were sure knew what he was doing."

Heston says that growing up around legendary directors such as William Wyler and George Stevens probably helped.

"He had quite an education," says Heston. "It was interesting to watch him on set. He never raised his voice, but he is physically large like his father, so he didn't have trouble with authority, if you follow me."

Yes, I do. And so did many thousands of people per promotional stop during his '95 world book tour, an attendance revelation that amazed even Heston.

"It was quite gratifying," says the actor icon who also played Moses in The Ten Commandments.

Meanwhile, he considers this year's offers, and selects what is best for Charlton Heston.

For instance, "I'm in Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet film at Christmas. I do the Player King."

And he'll do it so well.

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