Born John Lennox, Alan Gifford was an American actor who found his niche in UK-produced films throughout the 1960s and 70s. He is known for his roles in Devil Doll (1964) and Dark of the Sun (1968), where he often portrayed characters that added depth to the narratives. Gifford's work in The Legend of Nigger Charley (1972) and Phase IV (1974) further solidified his presence in the cult film landscape, making him a notable figure in the exploration of genre cinema.
The Legend of Nigger Charley
The opening scene includes Charley as a baby with his mother Theo in Africa. The two are forced into slavery. Twenty years later, Charley kills an abusive plantation owner and flees with his two friends, Joshua and Toby. As they run away from the slave catchers, the trio experience racism, standoffs and romance, specifically in a small town. After Joshua is killed in a standoff against the town's outlaw, the film ends with Charley and Toby leaving the town to continue traveling with no destination. According to the reviewer in the New York Times, "For all the feverish activity, there has yet to be a film of rounded merit—one of skill, imagination and impact—about the black man and the Old West.
