FILM CASSETTE

A film cassette (1) is disclosed wherein a film spool (5) is rotatable within the cassette shell (3) in film unwinding and rewinding directions, a convoluted film roll (33) whose outermost convolution (35) is a film leader (35) is coiled about the spool, a pair of film constraining flanges (41, 43) are coaxially arranged on the spool to radially confine the film leader to prevent the leader from substantially contacting an interior wall (57) of the cassette shell, and a film stripper-guide (67) is received between a leading end (37) of the film leader and the next-inward convolution (39) of the film roll succeeding the leader to remove the leader from the flanges and guide it through a film passageway (25) to the exterior of the cassette shell responsive to rotation of the spool in the film unwinding direction. According to the invention, the cassette shell (3) and the film leader (35) include mutual engagement means (71, 73) for securing the leader substantially proximate its leading end (37) responsive to rotation of the spool (5) in the film rewinding direction to prevent the leading end from coming to rest between the stripper-guide (67) and the next-inward convolution (39). If, conversely, the leading end (37) was stored between the stripper-guide (67) and the next-inward convolution, the film leader (35) might develop an inward curl sufficient to keep it of range of the stripper-guide.