Abstract: A cinematic projector having a reversible drive motor and a drive shaft driven by the drive motor with a pivotably mounted control assembly constituted of a plurality of pinions in mesh with one another and movable between first and second positions for drivingly engaging the drive shaft. In the first position, the control assembly transmits drive from the drive shaft for forward and reverse drive of the film respectively according to the direction of drive of the drive motor while in the second position the control assembly transmits drive from the drive shaft in forward motor drive. An operating assembly is drivingly coupled to the control assembly for engaging the film on the internal reel for rewinding the film from the internal reel to the external reel only when the control means is in the second position.