Universal Exports
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Universal Export(s) is a fictional company that is used as a cover name for the British Secret Service (MI6) in the James Bond novels and films. M, Bond's boss, is referred to as its "managing director". The name "Universal Export" is used in the books while the films use the name "Universal Exports." In Ian Fleming's last novel, The Man with the Golden Gun (1965), the name was changed to Transworld Consortium since it was believed that the name "Universal Export" was too well known. Later in John Gardner's first Bond novel, Licence Renewed (1981), the name was changed to Transworld Exports Ltd.
For the films, the name has never been changed and is often subtly used without much explanation. These occurrences are as follows:
- In Dr. No the door of Moneypenny's office (and a direction sign outside) is marked Universal Exports. When Bond arrives in Kingston he mentions the company when he talks to the Governor.
- When Bond is paged in From Russia with Love he phones in and asks for "UnivEx", the only time this abbreviated version is used.
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service opens with a shot of a brass name plate reading Universal Exports (Ltd) London prior to a scene featuring M and Q.
- The helicopter which is apparently sent to collect Bond in the pre-credits sequence to For Your Eyes Only is marked Universal Exports. The fact that the helicopter has actually been sent by a wheelchair bound cat lover (i.e. Blofeld) who wants to kill Bond implies that the cover has been blown.
- In Octopussy Bond welcomes Penelope Smallbone to Universal Exports and Vijay later introduces himself to Bond as working for the company.
- In The Living Daylights there is an establishing shot of a building with a Universal Exports Ltd sign prior to a Q Branch scene. When Bond telephones Station V (Vienna) it is answered with the cover name.
- Bond tells Milton Krest that he represents Universal Exports when checking his warehouse in Licence To Kill.
- In The World Is Not Enough, Bond tells Davidov that he works for Universal Exports and he has an identity card for the fictional company. These references came as something of a surprise, given that the more recent films have shown a more open MI6. However, it appears that even though the existence of the Secret Service itself is widely known, the cover name is still useful for when its operatives are travelling overseas.
- In Die Another Day Bond says that he is representing Universal Exports when he arrives at the cigar factory, a signal to activate Raoul, who is an MI6 sleeper agent.
- In the pre-credits sequence of Casino Royale, corrupt MI6 section chief Dryden opens a drawer containing a pistol lying on top of a folder marked "Universal Exports." The firm is never seen or mentioned again within the film.
Both Universal Exports Ltd (Company No. 04335328) and Transworld Exports Ltd (Company No. 02723115) actually exist on the UK register of limited companies at Companies house.
Characters
Allies • Villains • Girls • Henchmen • James Bond (character)
Q-Branch
Gadgets • Vehicles • Firearms
Other
Novels • Films • Games • Comic strips • Comic books • Parodies • Music • Title references • Locations
Inspirations • Puns • DVD's • Gun Barrel • Vesper • Shaken, not stirred • Universal Exports