Since Alfred Hitchcock was not an American college student or a baseball player, we can assume that when he posed for this studio photograph he was making the "sign of the horns" to ward off evil or bad luck.
The gesture has a long and complex history, undoubtedly originating as a manual representation of the Devil's horns; Bram Stoker referred to it in his novel Dracula:
It has subsequently been co-opted by musicians, athletes, politicians, and celebrities for a variety of purposes and meanings. Students at several universities use the sign in support of their team. In baseball and football it can mean "two outs" or "second down." It is even reportedly an unofficial sign for "B.S." (as the horns of a bull) in American sign language!
Photo via Old Hollywood.
The gesture has a long and complex history, undoubtedly originating as a manual representation of the Devil's horns; Bram Stoker referred to it in his novel Dracula:
When we started, the crowd round the inn door, which had by this time swelled to a considerable size, all made the sign of the cross and pointed two fingers towards me. With some difficulty I got a fellow-passenger to tell me what they meant; he would not answer at first, but on learning that I was English, he explained that it was a charm or guard against the evil eye.
It has subsequently been co-opted by musicians, athletes, politicians, and celebrities for a variety of purposes and meanings. Students at several universities use the sign in support of their team. In baseball and football it can mean "two outs" or "second down." It is even reportedly an unofficial sign for "B.S." (as the horns of a bull) in American sign language!
Photo via Old Hollywood.
Put one arm on top of the other (almost like folding your arms, but don't tuck your hands, and hold your arms slightly away from you).
With the arm on top, make the sign of the horns.
With the arm on bottom, make a fist.
The "B.S." is made by expanding that fist on bottom out into an explosive fashion (but keeping your arms together)... much like if a B was going to S... albeit explosively. ;)