The present invention provides optical modulators which comprise aligned chiral smectic liquid crystal cells within an optical resonance cavity. The cavity configurations include symmetric and asymmetric Fabry-Perot etalons. The liquid crystal cells can be planar- or homeotropically-aligned and can be discrete state or analog cells. The device configurations of the present invention provide discrete or continuous optical modulation of the phase, intensity, and wavelength of elliptically polarized light, without requiring polarization analyzers. The modulators are optically or electronically addressable in single pixels or arrays of multiple pixels. Certain homeotropically-aligned cells are provided as an aspect of this invention, as are certain variable retarders comprised of planar-aligned cells in combination with birefringent elements.