Ford has clearly mellowed since. Although his first marriage didn't survive the explosion of fame that followed Star Wars -- he and Marquardt divorced in 1979 -- Ford maintains a good relationship with his older sons. Now fully involved in the upbringing of Malcolm, 13, and Georgia, 10 -- his children with Mathison, 50, whom he first met on the set of Apocalypse Now in 1976 -- he concedes that fatherhood is easier the second time around. "It's an awesome responsibility," he says. "But they are grounded, sensible children."

With the kids on school vacation, Ford cherishes their time at the family ranch, where he works out for an hour most mornings, studies for his aircraft instrument ratings, fishes, rides horseback and plays tennis (often with his pal Chouinard, who reports that even on the court he keeps his cool. "He won't play a game. He just likes to hit the ball," he says. "He doesn't need to beat somebody"). Come September the family will head back to their three-bedroom apartment overlooking Central Park in Manhattan, where Malcolm and Georgia attend private school. Right now, Ford would prefer not to think about that; this is a man very much at home on the range, where the only sounds are the rustle of grass, the low whistle of birds and -- the whububump-bang-crash of a drum kit? Yep. In the garage below Ford's office, Malcolm has begun practicing his favorite instrument. "I wanted to encourage his musical development," says Ford, rolling his eyes to suggest this was not, perhaps, his wisest paternal initiative. Later, though, he can't conceal his pride as he runs his hand over a wooden helicopter that Malcolm has fixed. Woodworking-now there's a sensible, rewarding thing for a boy, or a man, to do. Says Dad: "Nice job."