A film reading device for reading documents of a prescribed size which are recorded on a film is disclosed. The film reading device has driven coil plates for receiving the film coils, a projection station between the coil plates for projecting a portion of film onto a viewing screen, a film transport device for transporting the film and a control circuit for controlling the film transport device. In order to be able to subject the microfilm documents to automatic format and position testing, a reading station is provided which the film passes through and which contains at least one light source and one reading head consisting of a plurality of light-sensitive sensor diodes which are arranged in a line transversely with respect to the direction of transport of the film and a diode control for periodically sampling the sensor diodes. An evaluation circuit is connected downstream of each reading head and outputs fault signals as a function of the number of sensor diodes which are actuated by a light region of the film or not-actuated by a dark region.
