Ingagi Blu-ray - Sir Hubert Winstead

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by William Campbell
USA 1930

The exploitation cinema had its share of scandalous films, but none is so mired in controversy as the bizarre pseudo-documentary Ingagi. Purporting to be an ethnographic journey into the wilds of Africa, it combines authentic footage purloined from other films, with outrageous scenes staged for the camera in Los Angeles. Among the hoaxes perpetrated are the discovery of the “tortadillo,” a heretofore unknown species of animal, and the exposure of an indigenous cult that worships (and sacrifices its women to) gorillas—a particularly racist concept that would resurface in films for years, most notably as the dramatic springboard for King Kong. After spawning a whole sub-genre of exotic shockumentaries (e.g. Forbidden Adventure, Karamoja), the originator faded into obscurity, mired in lawsuits and cursed by the notoriety of its title (the Kinyarwanda word for “gorilla”).

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An expedition enters an area of the Congo jungle to investigate reports of a gorilla-worshipping tribe.

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Theatrical Release: March 15th, 1930

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:21:48.708
Video	1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 22,660,314,635 bytes Feature: 19,468,392,000 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.96 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Commentaries: Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -27dB Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -27dB
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.37:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 22,660,314,635 bytes Feature: 19,468,392,000 bytes Video Bitrate: 27.96 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary by film historian Kelly Robinson • Audio commentary by series curator Bret Wood • About the restoration (4:26) • Trailer gallery Blu-ray Release Date: January 5th, 2021 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 10

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (January 2021): Kino in partnership with 'Something Weird Video' have transferred the 1930 Pre-Code exploitation film Ingagi to Blu-ray. It is cited that "Ingagi has not been commercially distributed for at least 50 years, and this 4K restoration, from materials preserved by the Library of Congress, marks the film’s home video premiere."

This is part of Kino's 'Forbidden Fruit' series to Blu-ray. This is Volume 8. We have already reviewed Volume One Mom and Dad, (STDs, birth control), Unashamed / Elysia (nudity, nudist camps), Volume 4 - Marihuana and/ Narcotic (also drugs) and Tomorrow's Children / Child Bride (eugenics / child marriage - Volume 5) and Volume 6 1949's She Should Have Said No and The Devil's Sleep.

Even with the 4K restoration this 1080P video is filled with weakness - beyond the stock footage used to represent the Belgian Congo. There are marks and damage with the studio-shot sequences looking fairly pleasing with grain textures. Overall though this is fraught with inconsistency - which may be predictable considering the footage utilized in the original production.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a linear PCM mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It reflective of the time of production - fairly sub-standard by more modern comparisons - and relates directly to the quality of the Library of Congress source and akin to the video. There is a score Edward Gage (his only film score credit) but doesn't add much to the experience, imo. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers two new commentaries by Bret Wood, co-author of Forbidden Fruit: The Golden Age of the Exploitation Film, who challenges that Ingagi is a more authentic film than it has been given credit for (well, only the title really) and the important last 20-minutes of the film (pretending to expose a cult that offers its women to Gorillas as part of a "fertility ritual', speculates about women mating with Gorillas and their offspring etc.) He also discusses the many crude stereotypes in the film and how it expresses racism. In the second commentary, from Kelly Robinson, she discusses about Gorillas in history and popular culture ('Ape' movies) as well as the uncredited Charles Gemora. Both are good - in totally different areas and highly educational. There is a 5-minutes piece about the restoration and a trailer gallery.

Ingagi exploits the unsavory suggestion of sex between a woman and a gorilla, while showing violence and nudity. It's really bad, but has a fascinating, if highly uncomfortable, edge - especially after indulging in the commentaries. These 'Forbidden Fruit' films on Kino Blu-ray are at their own 'unusual' exploitation level and most suitable to curious film, or history, students who might be the target market. It's pretty hard to believe these films were ever made - or that the market flourished at all for it to thrive. From that respect - highly fascinating. The commentaries offer essential value.

Gary Tooze