"Actors... are really different from us. ...The most ordinary of great actors is, of course, more beautiful than the most beautiful non-actor. And that power and electricity is inseparable from what the theater is."
-- filmmaker Ric Burns

The greatest acting talent in America made itself available to Ric Burns for his film on Eugene O'Neill. "If it's O'Neill, they will come," Burns says.

In these short videos, actors describe the enduring power behind O'Neill's words and read selections from his plays.

The Bare Stage (1:03)
Al Pacino speaks to the possibilities of the theater.

Actors on O'Neill (5:13)
Robert Sean Leonard, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Jason Robards Jr., Al Pacino and Christopher Plummer describe the experience of playing O'Neill.

Fear of the Poorhouse (3:38)
Christopher Plummer interprets the character of James Tyrone from the play Long Day's Journey Into Night.

"Goodbye, Old Pal" (8:00)
Al Pacino talks about the short play Hughie -- which O'Neill wrote towards the end of his career -- and gives a performance from the play.

Jason Robards on O'Neill Part 1 (5:28) Part 2 (5:43)
Jason Robards speaks about his personal experiences performing and viewing O'Neill.