A film transport mechanism (10) for extracting film (16, 24) from one or more cassettes (12, 14), and for slicing a sheet of the film and storing the sheet at a temporary storage apparatus (42) until the sheet is to be loaded. The mechanism (10) includes a film guide (20) which moves between two positions to alter the path length of film passing over it. As film (16, 24) is extracted the film (16, 24) exerts a force on the film guide (20) causing the film guide (20) to move. When the film (16, 24) is cut the force of the film guide (20) disappears enabling the film guide (20) to return to its relaxed position into the path of the film (16, 24) so as to increase the path length and thereby retract the film (16, 24) passing over the film guide (20).