Ingagi (1930)

Curiosità

Ingagi is a 1930 pre-Code pseudo-documentary exploitation film directed by William S. Campbell. It purports to be a documentary about "Sir Hubert Winstead" of London on an expedition to the Belgian Congo and depicts a tribe of gorilla-worshipping women encountered by the explorer.

Production

Much of the footage featured in the film was taken without permission from Grace Mackenzie's 1915 film Heart of Africa, which later resulted in legal action being brought against Congo Pictures by Mackenzie's son. The film purports to feature footage of a newly discovered animal, the "Tortadillo"; however, this animal was in fact a turtle with false wings and scales attached to it.

The gorilla in the film is portrayed with a mixture of stock footage, much of which is actually footage of orangutans and chimpanzees, and actors in gorilla costumes. In October 1930, actor Charlie Gemora signed an affidavit swearing that he portrayed the gorilla. Actor Hilton Phillips, originally hired to play one of the African natives in the film, alleged that he also played the gorilla.

It was reported that Congo Pictures prepared versions of Ingagi dubbed in French, German, and Spanish. Sources have (incorrectly) claimed that the word "ingagi" cannot be found "in any African language dictionary".

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