Polarizing beamsplitter for reflective light valve displays having opposing readout beams onto two opposing surfaces of the polarizer

A color image projection system for displaying color images consisting of red, green and blue (RGB) intensity patterns, comprising:

• a polarizer having first and second polarizing surfaces;
• a light source for projecting opposing readout beams onto respective polarizing surfaces of said polarizer, said surfaces reflecting either the S or P polarized components of said readout beams and passing the other components;
• a color prism for splitting said reflected components into polarized RGB beams;
• and
• RGB reflective light valve cells positioned to impart said RGB image intensity patterns onto said polarized RGB beams, said color prism reflecting said polarization modulated RGB beams towards said polarizer, and said polarizer modulating their intensities in accordance with their respective polarization modulations.