30 replies to this topic

[Gabe Vieira]

Being a Bond fan, I should know this, but I don't. Bond's cover most of the time, is that he works for Unversial Exports. But has it ever been said what Universial Exports really is? I mean, I doubt that it's a real company, but has it ever been mentioned what they do?

I haven't really read too many of the books, so I'm not sure if Universial Exports is explained in them. Is Universial Exports even in the books? Has is been said in the movies? I can't remember, but I think it might have been.

Does anybody know?

[Jim]

I think - I think - in one of the earlier books there's a brief passage about what happens to innocent callers who believe that they are doing business with a legitimate firm; to the effect that they are politely brushed off. I may be imagining it but I'm sure I've seen it somewhere.

I do recall that in Goldfinger, Bond's cover is that he works in their armaments division - effectively an arms dealer.

[Bon-san]

I think - I think - in one of the earlier books there's a brief passage about what happens to innocent callers who believe that they are doing business with a legitimate firm; to the effect that they are politely brushed off. I may be imagining it but I'm sure I've seen it somewhere.

I think that's from the first bits in The Man With The Golden Gun. My favorite part of that story, if memory serves.

[spynovelfan]

I also remember that, but wonder if I'm not confusing it with SPECTRE's cover story in THUNDERBALL.

It's a general exporting company, I think. And I think in some of the books it's called Universal Export, in the singular.

[Gabriel]

I wish they'd bring back Universal Exports. I never liked the business of Bond going to that pompous-looking riverbank building.

I far prefer the idea that the 00-section is so secret that even MI6 denies its existence. Bond should "work" for UE in an anonymous building that, inside, happens to be one of the best technologically-equipped espionage/assassin HQs in the world!

[ACE]

Moonraker.
Chapter 2 The Columbite King

Brief explanation of Universal Export Co.

[Jim]

Moonraker.
Chapter 2 The Columbite King

Brief explanation of Universal Export Co.

Ah, yes.

Isn't it Transworld Consortium by the time of The Man with the Golden Gun, anyway? Darned suspicious sounding name - not many British firms called "consortium".

[Bon-san]

Moonraker.
Chapter 2 The Columbite King

Brief explanation of Universal Export Co.

Ah, yes.

Isn't it Transworld Consortium by the time of The Man with the Golden Gun, anyway? Darned suspicious sounding name - not many British firms called "consortium".

Yeah, I always bristled at mention of "Transworld Consortium". Sounds like a cheese-ball American real estate firm circa 1975.

And thanks ACE for citing that reference in MR. Been a long time since I've picked up that book. May have to dip into it tonight.

[marktmurphy]

I wish they'd bring back Universal Exports. I never liked the business of Bond going to that pompous-looking riverbank building.

I far prefer the idea that the 00-section is so secret that even MI6 denies its existence. Bond should "work" for UE in an anonymous building that, inside, happens to be one of the best technologically-equipped espionage/assassin HQs in the world!

Well, it's still his cover up to TWINE.

The most pathetic use of it has to in Dr No, though, where it appears that M's office is in an office in a crowded office building. This makes it appear that M and Moneypenny ARE MI7 (sic), which is crazy!

[Gabe Vieira]

Moonraker.
Chapter 2 The Columbite King

Brief explanation of Universal Export Co.

Thanks, ACE! Unfortunately I have never read the book, nor do I own it. Can someone perhaps summarize the passage, and post it?

[spynovelfan]

Moonraker.
Chapter 2 The Columbite King

Brief explanation of Universal Export Co.

I'm at work so can't reference the chapter, but there is also a brief explanation that it is the cover used by agents in LALD, when Bond calls M and starts talking as though he were a salesman (as he does in later novels).

I wonder why they didn't use Universal Exports in the film of YOLT? Bond's cover business is called United Chemicals or something. Sounds like something from a Bond rip-off.

[stromberg]

I wonder why they didn't use Universal Exports in the film of YOLT? Bond's cover business is called United Chemicals or something. Sounds like something from a Bond rip-off.

That's an easy one: because Osato had already dealt with that (most likely real) company. Bond poses as successor for a "Mr. Fisher" who died in a tragic accident...


Oh, and Universal Exports was used in DAD as well, when Bond orders the Delectados at Raoul's cigar factory...

[spynovelfan]

I wonder why they didn't use Universal Exports in the film of YOLT? Bond's cover business is called United Chemicals or something. Sounds like something from a Bond rip-off.

That's an easy one: because Osato had already dealt with that (most likely real) company. Bond poses as successor for a "Mr. Fisher" who died in a tragic accident...

I'd forgotten that - thanks. But surely Bond should always use that trick. Why would anyone want to do business with this 'Universal Exports', which never does any business? And how did Bond get rid of Mr Fisher, and arrange with United Whatever-it-was to take his place? I don't remember seeing that.

[stromberg]

And how did Bond get rid of Mr Fisher, and arrange with United Whatever-it-was to take his place? I don't remember seeing that.

You can't possibly remember that - it isn't explained.
Surely, the British government has an agreement with companies like that ("Empire Chemicals" was the name, btw)

Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you

[ACE]

Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you 

They already have. They already have!

[spynovelfan]

And how did Bond get rid of Mr Fisher, and arrange with United Whatever-it-was to take his place? I don't remember seeing that.

You can't possibly remember that - it isn't explained.
Surely, the British government has an agreement with companies like that ("Empire Chemicals" was the name, btw)

Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you

Oh, sorry. Didn't I mention? I'm posting from my mink-lined cell.

[Loomis]

I wonder why they didn't use Universal Exports in the film of YOLT? Bond's cover business is called United Chemicals or something. Sounds like something from a Bond rip-off.

That's an easy one: because Osato had already dealt with that (most likely real) company. Bond poses as successor for a "Mr. Fisher" who died in a tragic accident...

I'd forgotten that - thanks. But surely Bond should always use that trick. Why would anyone want to do business with this 'Universal Exports', which never does any business? And how did Bond get rid of Mr Fisher, and arrange with United Whatever-it-was to take his place? I don't remember seeing that.

Well, how Bond got rid of Fisher is explained in the film. He fell into a pulverizer at work. Yes, he just fell in, funnily enough. Extraordinary, but there we are. You'd think that one couldn't really "fall in", as such - that one would have to either jump in or be thrown. Still, these things happen, I guess. Very lucky for Bond that Fisher just happened to die, making it possible for Bond to impersonate him. *Cough*

[Tarl_Cabot]

The universal exports is also an ideal cover since it would explain why an ango man could be anywhere in the world...etc.

[stromberg]

[quote name='ACE' date='12 January 2006 - 17:15'][quote name='stromberg' date='12 January 2006 - 16:07']Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you

[dinovelvet]

Well, how Bond got rid of Fisher is explained in the film. He fell into a pulverizer at work. Yes, he just fell in, funnily enough. Extraordinary, but there we are. You'd think that one couldn't really "fall in", as such - that one would have to either jump in or be thrown. Still, these things happen, I guess. Very lucky for Bond that Fisher just happened to die, making it possible for Bond to impersonate him. *Cough*

The guy who "fell into the pulverizer" is named Williams, though Bond clearly invents his death on the spot in Osato's office. Osato asks what happened to Williams, and the response from Bond is :

"Williams? (pause) Ah yes, he died rather suddenly, poor chap"
"How so?"
"He fell into a pulverizer"
"Ah, so!"

So the most likely explanation is that there is a man Williams who is the real head of Empire Chemicals. Or, alternately, there was never a Williams, and Osato knew this; maybe he threw the name Williams out to see how Bond would react, and Bond making up a story proves that he isn't who he says he is.

[stromberg]

Ah, right you are, of course.

Bond was posing as Fisher and the real guy's name was Williams.


Happens when people get Bond wrong.

Bond police, arrest me

[Carver]

Bond also uses it in Die Another Day, which confuses me. I mean, call me slow but at the point in the film when he uses Universal Exports as cover, he's not on an official MI6 mission. Surely he'd need them as cover- what if someone decided to check up on his story? It's probably blatantly obvious, but I can't see how he could use the MI6 cover.

[dunmall]

In DAD he is not posing he mentions the Delectaros (sp?) and Universal Exports to get in to see Raoul, a sort of simple recognition code, he isn't using it as a cover just so the Raoul will know he is on the level and can be trusted.

Yes of course the fact that he is wanted by MI6 and the NSA by this time does open up another can of worms in regards to being trustworthy lol!

[Dunph]

Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you 

They already have. They already have!

You mean those guys?



(Couldn't resist )

Brilliant. I love the Alan Partridge quote, Heiko, if that was intentional.

[stromberg]

[quote name='Dunph' date='13 January 2006 - 01:15'][quote name='stromberg' date='12 January 2006 - 19:53'][quote name='ACE' date='12 January 2006 - 17:15'][quote name='stromberg' date='12 January 2006 - 16:07']Don't ask too many questions about logic and continuity in Bond movies, otherwise the Bond Police will have an eye on you

[Dunph]

Spot on!

[ACE]

You mean those guys?



(Couldn't resist  )

Sehr gut!

I googled this excerpt on the Bond Police...

"In 1973 when the furtive yet effective HMJBPC (Her Majesty's James Bond Preservation Constabulary) was set up, people thinking undoctrinaire thoughts were re-educated. Alexander Walker, the late film critic, was thought to be their first collar when a an unfavourable review of LALD was leaked. They "visited" him and Roger became a school prefect.

HMJBPC or the Bond Police as they are known, got to the producers of Remmington Steele in '86 to force Eon's hand thus allowing us the best Bond ever.

Rocco Forte was a big fan of The Man With The Golden Gun and planned to develop Scaramanga's Island into a hotel complex in the early 80's. He too was "got to" and his favourite film is now the correct answer, From Russia With Love. And have you seen the refitted Forte hotel in Istanbul?

They allegedly got to Jack Schwartzman prior to NSNA. How else do you think Irwin Kershner and Lorenzo Semple were hired? The production was a mess and poor Schwartzman died prematurely of a heart attack. BP's involvement with the wretched film and the aftermath was never proven but is considered their finest coup.

The Bond Police are thought to be behind the popularity of "Thunderball" as a film amongst Bond fans.

Various fan organizations have been infiltrated explaining how few people on various sites have read or even care for the Ian Fleming novels..."

[stromberg]

Sehr gut!

I googled this excerpt on the Bond Police...

"In 1973 when the furtive yet effective HMJBPC (Her Majesty's James Bond Preservation Constabulary) was set up, people thinking undoctrinaire thoughts were re-educated. Alexander Walker, the late film critic, was thought to be their first collar when a an unfavourable review of LALD was leaked. They "visited" him and Roger became a school prefect.

HMJBPC or the Bond Police as they are known, got to the producers of Remmington Steele in '86 to force Eon's hand thus allowing us the best Bond ever.

Rocco Forte was a big fan of The Man With The Golden Gun and planned to develop Scaramanga's Island into a hotel complex in the early 80's. He too was "got to" and his favourite film is now the correct answer, From Russia With Love. And have you seen the refitted Forte hotel in Istanbul?

They allegedly got to Jack Schwartzman prior to NSNA. How else do you think Irwin Kershner and Lorenzo Semple were hired? The production was a mess and poor Schwartzman died prematurely of a heart attack. BP's involvement with the wretched film and the aftermath was never proven but is considered their finest coup.

The Bond Police are thought to be behind the popularity of "Thunderball" as a film amongst Bond fans.

Various fan organizations have been infiltrated explaining how few people on various sites have read or even care for the Ian Fleming novels..."

Hehe.
New, improved version:
 HMJBPC.jpg   47.12KB   49 downloads

[ACE]

Excellent! LOL

Now, let's round up the usual suspects...

[Righty007]

Sorry for bumping this back up but I thought I'd add my two cents.

In my opinion, "Universal Exports" is intentionally vague so that 00 agents can utilize it in the field to fit their cover at the time.

Example: In Licence to Kill, Universal Exports dealt with the shipment of Carcharodon carcharias.

Example: In Quantum of Solace, calling the number on a Universal Exports business card gets you an automated message and the opportunity to get your cellphone tracked by MI6.