DISPUTEDCRAFT
The Mariana Film
1950 · Great Falls, Montana · USA
WHAT IT IS
One of the first UFO motion films. The Air Force suggested reflections from two jets known to be nearby, which the footage's defenders reject.
THE CASE FOR
One of the first UFO motion films, taken in daylight; Mariana maintained the two jets in the area were seen separately from the objects, and defenders say the discs' motion doesn't behave like reflections.
THE CASE AGAINST
Two F-94s were verifiably nearby within minutes, and sunlight off their airframes remains the parsimonious explanation for two bright points crossing the sky.
WHERE IT STANDS
Disputed. Serious questions remain about how it was made or what it shows, and neither side has settled them.
STATUS IS OUR CURRENT ASSESSMENT, NOT A VERDICT · REVIEWED 3 SEPT 2026
THE RECORD
- DATE
- 1950
- PLACE
- Great Falls, Montana · USA
- RECORDED BY
- Nick Mariana
- TECHNICAL
- 16 mm colour film · Great Falls, Montana, 1950 · Mariana claimed the clearest frames went missing after Air Force examination
