Abstract: An apparatus for displaying movie subtitles has a liquid crystal display capable of forming alphanumeric images in polarized light on a cross-polarized light background. A decoder, a microprocessor and a driver are used to transfer coded information on standard movie film into appropriate subtitles which are then formed on the liquid crystal display. A polarizing material is provided to selective viewers to enable the viewers to distinguish the alphanumeric subtitles from the liquid crystal display background. This polarizing material is provided in the form of glasses which can be cross-polarized to either the alphanumeric images or to the background thereby either providing darkened letters on a light background or light letters on a darkened background. The subtitle apparatus and the method for its use can be used as a closed captioning system to allow the hearing impaired to view movies in movie theaters without loss of the dialogue portion of the film.