36 replies to this topic

[Milovy]

Many apologies if this question has been already asked a million times... but what is the deal with "Universal Exports" in certain Bond films?

[Professor Dent]

Welcome to the forums Milovy. Universal Exports is the name of the company Bond uses as a cover when he is traveling around the world. This way he doesn't have to say he is a secret agent really there to spy on someone.

[chris-o]

I recognized that UnivEx did not appear in a Bond movie until DAD. I'm wondering if the secret company gets a role in an upcoming Bond movie!

[Auric64]

I recognized that UnivEx did not appear in a Bond movie until DAD. I'm wondering if the secret company gets a role in an upcoming Bond movie!

Bond mentions the name in LTK, when he visits Krest`s place, and the name of the company is visible on a plaque of a building in the PTS of OHMSS. I think it`s visible also on the door to Moneypenny`s office in Dr. No.

I`m sure there are a few other times its seen/mentioned.

Best

Andy

[Mr_Wint]

Universal Exports is mentioned in:

DN (on a building)
FRWL (phone call)
OHMSS (on the plate)
FYEO (on the helicopter in the PTS)
OP (Bond mention it in dialogue with MoneyPenny and Vijay)
TLD (during a phone call)
LTK (Bond use it when he visit Krest)
TWINE (in dialogue with Davidov)
DAD (when searching for Raoul)

I think that's all. Also, the abbrevation "UNIVEX" is only used once, in FRWL.

[Scottlee]

You'd think Universal Exports would be on all the bad guy's black lists by now wouldn't you?

[Kilroy6644]

You'd think Universal Exports would be on all the bad guy's black lists by now wouldn't you?

In the books it was. In Fleming's TMWTGG, Universal Export (the last 's' was added in the movies) was believed to be too well known, so they changed it to Transworld Consortium. John Gardner then changed it to Transworld Exports Ltd.

[Qwerty]

You'd think Universal Exports would be on all the bad guy's black lists by now wouldn't you?

Quite! Wonder if it will turn up in any of the Daniel Craig movies.

[marktmurphy]

Off the top of my head we see the UniVex logos in TLD, TWINE and FYEO; is that right?

[plankattack]

You'd think Universal Exports would be on all the bad guy's black lists by now wouldn't you?

Quite! Wonder if it will turn up in any of the Daniel Craig movies.

Check the PTS closely - I think you catch a glimpse of "Universal Exports" and globe logo on one of the files in Dryden's office. Not sure, but I could have sworn I saw it.

[MHazard]

Two semi-interesting additional facts:
1. If memory serves me right, in the novels the gray building in Regents Park that houses the British Secret Service has a "Universal Exports" entrance on one side with that listed on the building; and

2. In the 1960's when there was a myriad of James Bond toys, including the legendary James Bond attache case, the toys came with James Bond business cards which said "James Bond Universal Exports" while in a transparent red plastic sleeve. When removed from the plastic sleeve, the yellow lettering "007" appeared.

[DaveBond21]

Interesting thread. I always like hearing the words Universal Exports in Bond movies. As Qwerty said, I wonder if we'll see it used in the Daniel Craig era?

[Major Tallon]

Two semi-interesting additional facts:
1. If memory serves me right, in the novels the gray building in Regents Park that houses the British Secret Service has a "Universal Exports" entrance on one side with that listed on the building; and

2. In the 1960's when there was a myriad of James Bond toys, including the legendary James Bond attache case, the toys came with James Bond business cards which said "James Bond Universal Exports" while in a transparent red plastic sleeve. When removed from the plastic sleeve, the yellow lettering "007" appeared.

You're right about the business cards, but ever so slightly off about the headquarters building. There's a "bronze list of occupants" in the HQ entrance hall listing several companies using the premises, most of which appear to be fronts for the Secret Service. Among these is "Universal Export Co." (Moonraker, Chapter Two).

[MHazard]

I stand corrected. I had a vague memory of Bond in one of the novels (I think it might be TB) leaving the building from the "Universal Exports entrance".

[Professor Dent]

Here's another. In TWINE, there is a good shot of Bond's Universal Exports ID card. It's when he is cutting the picture of himself off of it just before he boards the plane to the Russian missile facility.

[sharpshooter]

I enjoy it when Bond mentions Universal Exports. I hope Craig has a reference to it in his tenture, so far every other Bond has.

[MarcAngeDraco]

Check the PTS closely - I think you catch a glimpse of "Universal Exports" and globe logo on one of the files in Dryden's office. Not sure, but I could have sworn I saw it.

I'll have to check that out tonight...

[erniecureo]

If the Brits had a decent sense of humor they'd put a 'Universal Export' plaque up next to the door on the real MI6 building...

[OmarB]

UE is one of the better Flemming creations. It's a cover that's well devised and not only that but since Bond has been with the company for quite a few years if someone were to do a background check his "cover" would be pretty hardcore. Besides, it's an easy way to ship weapons, gadgets and such into other parts of the world without much trouble.

[chris-o]

Universal Exports will return 2008

[Jeff007]

You couldn't see it in CR but I believe that the Mr. Beech and Miss Stephanie Broadchest dossiers were titled with UE.

[DaveBond21]

If the Brits had a decent sense of humor they'd put a 'Universal Export' plaque up next to the door on the real MI6 building

You don't like the British sense of humour?


And I think you might get into trouble if you did that. Try it at your local government building - see what happens!!

[Righty007]

I think that's all. Also, the abbrevation "UNIVEX" is only used once, in FRWL.

I'm pretty sure Strangways' secretary says "UNIVEX" over the radio in Dr. No.

[Major Tallon]

I think that's all. Also, the abbrevation "UNIVEX" is only used once, in FRWL.

I'm pretty sure Strangways' secretary says "UNIVEX" over the radio in Dr. No.

No, her dialog is, "W6N calling G7W." As Mr. Wint points out, Connery uses "UNIVEX" only once, when he calls "the office" in the picnic scene in FRWL.

[Joey Bond]

Tell me if I'm mistaken, but in the PTS of CR, when Dryden opens his drawer to get his gun is there an envelope that says Universal Exports?

[Vauxhall]

Tell me if I'm mistaken, but in the PTS of CR, when Dryden opens his drawer to get his gun is there an envelope that says Universal Exports?

Yes, that's correct.

[Skudor]

You'd think Universal Exports would be on all the bad guy's black lists by now wouldn't you?

Quite! Wonder if it will turn up in any of the Daniel Craig movies.

I think they are more likely to use something new but similar. General Imports or something like that.

[Publius]

In addition to the instances already mentioned, I seem to recall Bond and/or Moneypenny mentioning it during their phone conversation in Thunderball. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, definitely one of my favorite bits of Bond tradition, and still obscure enough that I'm sure I'd be the only one to cheer if I heard it referenced in a new Bond movie.

[Donovan Mayne-Nicholls]

Isn't it written on Bond's plane in Moonraker?

[Skudor]

Isn't it written on Bond's plane in Moonraker?

Don't think so. Are you thinking about Drax's planes landing in Rio?