A liquid crystal display unit includes a liquid crystal display panel having a matrix or pixels which act as light valves. The red component of an image is displayed on the panel, and a red light is flashed on the back of the panel. Then the green component of the image is displayed and a green light is flashed, and the blue component is displayed and a blue light is flashed. A plurality of light sources, each having a red light emitter, a green light emitter, and a blue light emitter, may be employed at a close distance to an active-matrix LCD panel if compensation is provided for the differences in light intensity at different positions on the back of the panel. A passive-matrix LCD panel may be used if a flash of light is emitted each time a row electrode of the panel is strobed. Preferably a plurality of light sources is used, and after one row electrode is strobed and its associated light source is fired, the next row electrode to be strobed is located adjacent a different light source. As a result, a row of pixels is exposed to an intense burst of light at the optimum moment and a relatively mild burst of light as the row of pixels is turning OFF.