Austrian actor Adrian Hoven (1922-1981) was the athletic and dynamic Sonnyboy of the German cinema in the 1950s, who would become one of the stars of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films in the 1970s. As a writer, producer and director he made horror and erotica with SM overtones.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden (Westf.), no. F 4. Retail price: 25 Pf. Photo: Melodie / Dt. London. Publicity still for Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
German postcard by Franz Josef Rüdel, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. Fl 2. Photo: Melodie / Dt. London / Heil. Publicity still for Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
German postcard by Werbedruck Rudolf Stepanek, München. Photo: Gloria / Bayer. Adrian Hoven in Sterne über Colombo/Stars over Colombo (Veit Harlan, 1953).
German postcard by UFA, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. 87. Photo: Arthur Grimm / Constantin Film.
German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. CK-90. Photo: Ringpress / Vogelmann.
Adrian Hoven was born as Wilhelm Arpad Peter Hofkirchner in Wöllersdorf, Niederösterreich (Austria) in 1922. He was the son of the administrative officer Rudolf Hofkirchner and his wife Gisela, and he passed in youth in Tyrol, where his grandparents had a hotel.
After graduation, he first completed a precision mechanics apprenticeship in Vienna, studied mechanical engineering and trained as an aircraft technician in the 'Messerschmidt-Werke'. He was a paratrooper during the Second World War, severely wounded in Africa, and was in the infirmary for a long time.
Still during WW II, he was discovered by film director Helmut Weiss and Hoven made his debut in the Heinz Rühmann comedy Quax in Afrika/Quax in Africa (Helmut Weiss, 1943-1947).
After the war he decided to go to an acting school and chose Dahlberg in Berlin. He started to work on the Berlin stages, like Tribüne, the Renaissance-Theater and the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. Quickly, he was spotted for his natural acting style.
I was again Weiss who gave him a break in the cinema, the part of a cadet in Herzkönig/King of Hearts (Helmut Weiss, 1947). After the circus drama Tromba (Helmut Weiss, 1949), Hoven decided to concentrate solely on films. It would be the start of a successful career with more than 100 films.
As the young hero or lover he seemed to excel in every genre; in melodramas like Dr. Holl/Affairs of Dr. Holl (Rolf Hansen, 1951), in comedies like Die unentschuldigte Stunde/The Unexcused Hour (Willi Forst, 1957), in romances like Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954) and ...wie einst Lili Marleen/Like Once Lili Marleen (Paul Verhoeven, 1956), but also in war films like Canaris/Canaris: Master Spy (Alfred Weidenmann, 1954) and Rommel ruft Kairo/Rommel Calls Cairo (Wolfgang Schleif, 1959).
With his black hair and blue eyes, Adrian Hoven looked as dashing in a dinner jacket as in a uniform.
German postcard by Kolibri, no. 1940. Photo: Camera-Film.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 1207. Photo: Junge Film-Union / Wesel. Publicity still for Der Bagnosträfling/The Prisoner (Gustav Fröhlich, 1949).
German postcard by Kunst und Bild, Berlin, no. A 443. Photo: Panorama Film. Adrian Hoven in Der Dorfmonarch/The village monarch (Joe Stöckel, 1950).
German postcard by F.J. Rüdel, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. 87. Photo: FAMA-Film / Niczky. Publicity still for Dr. Holl (Rolf Hansen, 1951).
German collectors card by Helmstedter Margarinewerk GMBH, Helmstedt. Photo: Sokal / Allianz-Film. Adrian Hoven in Karneval in Weiß/Carnival in white (Hans Albin, Harry R. Sokal, 1952). Gift by Didier Hanson.
German card by Kolibri-Verlag, no. 127. Photo: Ariston / NF / Brünjes. Hannelore Bollmann and Adrian Hoven in Ehe für eine Nacht/Marriage for One Night (Viktor Tourjansky, 1953).
In 1965, Adrian Hoven founded with Pier A. Caminneci the production company Aquila Film Enterprises.
He made his first film as a director, writer and producer, the psycho thriller Der Mörder mit dem Seidenschal/The Murder With the Silk Scarf (Adrian Hoven, 1966) starring Carl Möhner.
The film was not a box office success so he switched to more commercial genres like horror and erotica. He produced the SM fantasy Necronomicon/Geträumte Sünden/Succubus (Jesus Franco, 1966), which became an international cult hit.
He also occasionally tried his hand at screenwriting under the nom de plume of Percy Parker.
As an actor he could be seen in European thrillers and horror exploitation, including Avec la peau des autres/With the Lives of Others (Jacques Deray, 1966) starring Lino Ventura, Rote Lippen, Sadisterotica/Two Undercover Angels (Jesus Franco, 1969), and Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält/Mark of the Devil (1970) starring Herbert Lom.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 651. Photo: Kolibri / Neubarth.
German postcard by Rüdel-Verlag, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. 1225. Photo: Erma / Herzog-Film / Czerwonski. Romy Schneider and Adrian Hoven in Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954).
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 1207. Photo: CCC / Gloria-Film / Grimm. Adrian Hoven in Die große Starparade/The great star parade (Paul Martin, 1954).
German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 1888. Photo: Eva-Film / RKO-Film. Publicity still for Solange Du Lebst/As Long as You Live (Harald Reinl, 1955).
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag, Minden/Westf., no. 1777. Photo: Berolina / Herzog-Film / Wesel. Walter Giller, Adrian Hoven and Walter Müller in Die Drei von der Tankstelle/The Three from the Filling Station (Hans Wolff, 1955).
Dutch postcard by Gebr. Spanjersberg N.V., Rotterdam, no. 1254. Photo: NF / Ufa/Film-Foto.
More challenging was Adrian Hoven's work for the Neue Deutsche Film. He played a transvestite in Schatten der Engel/Shadow of Angels (Daniel Schmid, 1976).
He worked for several prestigious (TV-)films by the great director Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Welt am Draht/World on Wires (1973) with Klaus Löwitsch, Martha (1974) featuring Margit Carstensen, Faustrecht der Freiheit/Fox and His Friends (1975) as the father of Peter Chatel, Angst vor der Angst/Fear of Fear (1975), Satansbraten/Satan's Brew (1976), and Despair (1978) starring Dirk Bogarde.
Hoven also acted in the 15-hour TV miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1980) and Lili Marleen (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1981) with Hanna Schygulla.
He also worked as a TV host. His son Percy Hoven works as an actor and TV presenter too.
Adrian Hoven died in 1981 in Tegernsee, Germany. He was 58. His final film was the carnival drama Looping - Der lange Traum vom kurzen Glück/Looping (Walter Bockmayer, Rolf Bührmann, 1981) with Hans Christian Blech.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag, Minden/Westf, no. 2315. Photo: Melodie / Deutsche London / Heil. Dany Robin and Adrian Hoven in Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
East-German postcard by VEB Progress Film-Vertrieb, Berlin, no. 1500, 1961. Photo: Doris Kirchner and Adrian Hoven in Lügen haben hübsche Beine/Lies have pretty legs (Erik Ode, 1956).
German postcard by Rüdel-Verlag. Photo: Wiener Stadthalle / Bavariafilm. Adrian Hoven in Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir/Sing, but don't play with me (Kurt Nachmann, 1963).
Trailer for Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954). Source: Heimatfilme (YouTube).
Trailer Das Rätsel der roten Orchidee/The Puzzle of the Red Orchid (Helmuth Ashley, 1962). Source: Rialto Film (youTube).
Trailer for Der Mörder mit dem Seidenschal/The Murder With the Silk Scarf (Adrian Hoven, 1966). Source: Spagmanix (YouTube).
Trailer for Eurotrash Chinos y minifaldas/Scorpions And Mini Skirts (Ramón Comas, 1967), "the most surprising production of the year". Source: Night of the Trailers (YouTube).
UNCUT trailer for Kiss Me, Monster (Jess Franco, 1969). Source: Sleazemovies (YouTube).
Sources: Hal Erickson (AllMovie), Stephanie D'heil (Steffi-Line - German), Wikipedia (German) and IMDb.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden (Westf.), no. F 4. Retail price: 25 Pf. Photo: Melodie / Dt. London. Publicity still for Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
German postcard by Franz Josef Rüdel, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. Fl 2. Photo: Melodie / Dt. London / Heil. Publicity still for Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
German postcard by Werbedruck Rudolf Stepanek, München. Photo: Gloria / Bayer. Adrian Hoven in Sterne über Colombo/Stars over Colombo (Veit Harlan, 1953).
German postcard by UFA, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. 87. Photo: Arthur Grimm / Constantin Film.
German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. CK-90. Photo: Ringpress / Vogelmann.
Dashing
Adrian Hoven was born as Wilhelm Arpad Peter Hofkirchner in Wöllersdorf, Niederösterreich (Austria) in 1922. He was the son of the administrative officer Rudolf Hofkirchner and his wife Gisela, and he passed in youth in Tyrol, where his grandparents had a hotel.
After graduation, he first completed a precision mechanics apprenticeship in Vienna, studied mechanical engineering and trained as an aircraft technician in the 'Messerschmidt-Werke'. He was a paratrooper during the Second World War, severely wounded in Africa, and was in the infirmary for a long time.
Still during WW II, he was discovered by film director Helmut Weiss and Hoven made his debut in the Heinz Rühmann comedy Quax in Afrika/Quax in Africa (Helmut Weiss, 1943-1947).
After the war he decided to go to an acting school and chose Dahlberg in Berlin. He started to work on the Berlin stages, like Tribüne, the Renaissance-Theater and the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm. Quickly, he was spotted for his natural acting style.
I was again Weiss who gave him a break in the cinema, the part of a cadet in Herzkönig/King of Hearts (Helmut Weiss, 1947). After the circus drama Tromba (Helmut Weiss, 1949), Hoven decided to concentrate solely on films. It would be the start of a successful career with more than 100 films.
As the young hero or lover he seemed to excel in every genre; in melodramas like Dr. Holl/Affairs of Dr. Holl (Rolf Hansen, 1951), in comedies like Die unentschuldigte Stunde/The Unexcused Hour (Willi Forst, 1957), in romances like Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954) and ...wie einst Lili Marleen/Like Once Lili Marleen (Paul Verhoeven, 1956), but also in war films like Canaris/Canaris: Master Spy (Alfred Weidenmann, 1954) and Rommel ruft Kairo/Rommel Calls Cairo (Wolfgang Schleif, 1959).
With his black hair and blue eyes, Adrian Hoven looked as dashing in a dinner jacket as in a uniform.
German postcard by Kolibri, no. 1940. Photo: Camera-Film.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 1207. Photo: Junge Film-Union / Wesel. Publicity still for Der Bagnosträfling/The Prisoner (Gustav Fröhlich, 1949).
German postcard by Kunst und Bild, Berlin, no. A 443. Photo: Panorama Film. Adrian Hoven in Der Dorfmonarch/The village monarch (Joe Stöckel, 1950).
German postcard by F.J. Rüdel, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. 87. Photo: FAMA-Film / Niczky. Publicity still for Dr. Holl (Rolf Hansen, 1951).
German collectors card by Helmstedter Margarinewerk GMBH, Helmstedt. Photo: Sokal / Allianz-Film. Adrian Hoven in Karneval in Weiß/Carnival in white (Hans Albin, Harry R. Sokal, 1952). Gift by Didier Hanson.
German card by Kolibri-Verlag, no. 127. Photo: Ariston / NF / Brünjes. Hannelore Bollmann and Adrian Hoven in Ehe für eine Nacht/Marriage for One Night (Viktor Tourjansky, 1953).
Horror and Erotica
In 1965, Adrian Hoven founded with Pier A. Caminneci the production company Aquila Film Enterprises.
He made his first film as a director, writer and producer, the psycho thriller Der Mörder mit dem Seidenschal/The Murder With the Silk Scarf (Adrian Hoven, 1966) starring Carl Möhner.
The film was not a box office success so he switched to more commercial genres like horror and erotica. He produced the SM fantasy Necronomicon/Geträumte Sünden/Succubus (Jesus Franco, 1966), which became an international cult hit.
He also occasionally tried his hand at screenwriting under the nom de plume of Percy Parker.
As an actor he could be seen in European thrillers and horror exploitation, including Avec la peau des autres/With the Lives of Others (Jacques Deray, 1966) starring Lino Ventura, Rote Lippen, Sadisterotica/Two Undercover Angels (Jesus Franco, 1969), and Hexen bis aufs Blut gequält/Mark of the Devil (1970) starring Herbert Lom.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 651. Photo: Kolibri / Neubarth.
German postcard by Rüdel-Verlag, Hamburg-Bergedorf, no. 1225. Photo: Erma / Herzog-Film / Czerwonski. Romy Schneider and Adrian Hoven in Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954).
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag G.m.b.H., Minden/Westf., no. 1207. Photo: CCC / Gloria-Film / Grimm. Adrian Hoven in Die große Starparade/The great star parade (Paul Martin, 1954).
German postcard by Ufa, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. FK 1888. Photo: Eva-Film / RKO-Film. Publicity still for Solange Du Lebst/As Long as You Live (Harald Reinl, 1955).
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag, Minden/Westf., no. 1777. Photo: Berolina / Herzog-Film / Wesel. Walter Giller, Adrian Hoven and Walter Müller in Die Drei von der Tankstelle/The Three from the Filling Station (Hans Wolff, 1955).
Dutch postcard by Gebr. Spanjersberg N.V., Rotterdam, no. 1254. Photo: NF / Ufa/Film-Foto.
Neue Deutsche Film
More challenging was Adrian Hoven's work for the Neue Deutsche Film. He played a transvestite in Schatten der Engel/Shadow of Angels (Daniel Schmid, 1976).
He worked for several prestigious (TV-)films by the great director Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Welt am Draht/World on Wires (1973) with Klaus Löwitsch, Martha (1974) featuring Margit Carstensen, Faustrecht der Freiheit/Fox and His Friends (1975) as the father of Peter Chatel, Angst vor der Angst/Fear of Fear (1975), Satansbraten/Satan's Brew (1976), and Despair (1978) starring Dirk Bogarde.
Hoven also acted in the 15-hour TV miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1980) and Lili Marleen (Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1981) with Hanna Schygulla.
He also worked as a TV host. His son Percy Hoven works as an actor and TV presenter too.
Adrian Hoven died in 1981 in Tegernsee, Germany. He was 58. His final film was the carnival drama Looping - Der lange Traum vom kurzen Glück/Looping (Walter Bockmayer, Rolf Bührmann, 1981) with Hans Christian Blech.
German postcard by Kolibri-Verlag, Minden/Westf, no. 2315. Photo: Melodie / Deutsche London / Heil. Dany Robin and Adrian Hoven in Bonsoir Paris/Good Evening Paris (Ralph Baum, 1956).
East-German postcard by VEB Progress Film-Vertrieb, Berlin, no. 1500, 1961. Photo: Doris Kirchner and Adrian Hoven in Lügen haben hübsche Beine/Lies have pretty legs (Erik Ode, 1956).
German postcard by Rüdel-Verlag. Photo: Wiener Stadthalle / Bavariafilm. Adrian Hoven in Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir/Sing, but don't play with me (Kurt Nachmann, 1963).
Trailer for Mädchenjahre einer Königin/The Story of Vickie (Ernst Marischka, 1954). Source: Heimatfilme (YouTube).
Trailer Das Rätsel der roten Orchidee/The Puzzle of the Red Orchid (Helmuth Ashley, 1962). Source: Rialto Film (youTube).
Trailer for Der Mörder mit dem Seidenschal/The Murder With the Silk Scarf (Adrian Hoven, 1966). Source: Spagmanix (YouTube).
Trailer for Eurotrash Chinos y minifaldas/Scorpions And Mini Skirts (Ramón Comas, 1967), "the most surprising production of the year". Source: Night of the Trailers (YouTube).
UNCUT trailer for Kiss Me, Monster (Jess Franco, 1969). Source: Sleazemovies (YouTube).
Sources: Hal Erickson (AllMovie), Stephanie D'heil (Steffi-Line - German), Wikipedia (German) and IMDb.
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