MartinHafer Up to the 1950s, small studios made films for consumption in black movie houses across America. Given that these movies were never shown to mixed audiences, their audiences were rather small and their production values even smaller. For the most part, these films lack the polish and professional acting you'd find in other contemporary films--though there are a few exceptions. "Son of Ingagi" is an exception--but not in a good way. It manages to be significantly WORSE than the average black-produced film of its day and my score of 2 might just be a bit charitable.This film is supposed to be a horror film--much like the low-budget stuff being released by PRC and Monogram. However, given the budget is even LESS than that of these poverty row production companies, the film never elicits any chills or thrills, only giggles.It begins with a young couple getting married. Soon after the wedding, a strange old lady doctor comes to visit the bride (who, by the way, is the worst actor in the film...by far) and wish her well in her new marriage. In the following scene, you see the Doc at home and she has some sort of ape-man living in her home that she brought back from Africa. Despite having lived with her peacefully for MANY years, the ape-dude ends up killing her and others. The young couple then inherit the home and killings continue. The idiot police send their #1 idiot (Spencer Williams of "Amos 'n Andy" fame) to solve the crime though he isn't much good. Eventually, the man of the house rescues his bride (who the monster just kidnapped) and destroys the creature. However, there is so little energy and excitement that you really won't care....just laugh! While this isn't quite as bad as an Ed Wood film, it is close. The acting and writing were pretty bad and the film is, unfortunately, rather dull. The only good reasons to watch it are if you like watching bad movies or you want to see an example of black cinema. Other than that, stay clear.

wes-connors "A newlywed couple is visited by a mysterious doctor that claims she has some important information to pass along to the bride. Shortly after the bride meets with the doctor, the doctor dies and ends up leaving the estate to the bride. When the couple arrives at the doctor's home to take up residence, the newlyweds discover the doctor has left more than an estate to them," according to the DVD sleeve's synopsis.An awful film, notable for a couple of reasons. The musical numbers performed by "The Four Toppers" are nicely done. And, you do a good look at Spencer Williams, who wrote the story and has a featured on-screen role (as Nelson). In the early 1950s, Mr. Williams became an "overnight sensation" when he was picked to play the latter half of the popular "Amos 'n Andy" radio comedy team, transferred to TV.** Son of Ingagi (1940) Richard C. Kahn ~ Alfred Grant, Daisy Bufford, Spencer Williams

kidboots Laura Bowman had a real presence and while she was the focal point - the film had direction. Even when she had to utter such silly lines as "the greatest discovery since Louis Pasteur" she has a believability in her acting. Once her character (Dr. Helen Jackson) is killed off, Spencer Williams entered as a police chief and the film descended into a Mantan Moreland type comedy mystery (although there was really no mystery about who was doing the killings). Only Alfred Grant as Bob and Daisy Bufford as Eleanor tried to keep it "real". There were also inconsistencies in the story - why was there a fire??? What was the reason??? There was also the locket and the note that was pushed under the door - by whom???On the day Bob and Eleanor married, Dr. Helen Jackson demands Bradshaw, a lawyer, draw up her will. That night Bob and Eleanor celebrate their wedding with friends and a great little singing group "The Toppers". They had a similar sound to the Mills Brothers and provide an entertaining musical interlude with "So Long Pal" and "You Drove the Gloom Away". That same night there is a fire at the factory and while Bob is out Dr. Jackson pays Eleanor a visit. She tells Eleanor about her parents and that she had always loved Eleanor's dad. She also gives her a locket that she had been given by Eleanor's dad before he married her mother.When Dr. Jackson goes home her brother, Zino, is there demanding half her fortune but after seeing N'gina (half beast, half man) he flees. Dr. Jackson has made some great discovery, but she is murdered and suspicion falls on the newly married couple as they have inherited the doctors estate. Bradshaw, who always seemed to be acting in a suspicious manner calls on the couple who have moved into Dr. Jackson's house. He is murdered because he accidentally summons N'gina with the dinner gong. The police chief (Spencer Williams) is very casual and laid back bringing a comic relief to the film that isn't needed. He was probably in training for his role as Andy in the Amos and Andy television show.There is no mystery about the murders, that through all the comedy, are still carried out very dramatically. N'gina then kidnaps Eleanor and starts a fire that burns the Doctor's house to the ground.

BaronBl00d Wow! When they set out to make a bad movie in the golden days, they sure knew how to do it! This film is bad, no qualms, questions about it. The story essentially tells a story about a young couple just getting married who are visited by a wealthy doctor known to everyone else for her miserly ways, yet in secret a very giving woman. We learn that this woman is attached somehow to the wife, and then we discover that she has been in Africa and loved her father. The film is intriguing with its all black cast(save the doctor and her brother), but ultimately fails as the moment the monster(an ape-like man living in the doctor's office) is revealed destroys any credibility the movie might have had. This monster looks so silly with its black wire hairs(mop-like)hanging over its face which has sunken eyes. It moves around in a pitiful way, and in no way is scary. The film also does not know exactly what it is trying to be. Is it a horror film or a comedy? The ape kills on two occasions with no comedy implied, and then later we see it eat two sandwiches from a scared policeman desperately trying to imitate Mantan Moreland. I also forgot to mention the lovely music sung as the wedded couple spend their honeymoon in their house and are visited by all their "singing" friends and family. The film sports few great moments. It has poor, inferior direction, sets, script, and acting. The best part for me was the woman who played the doctor. She was quite atmospheric in her black dress and her portly figure. That, however, is not enough to recommend this exercise in will...making you sit through it.