Montgolfier Brothers is a sketch that appears in "The Golden Age of Ballooning," the fortieth episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Synopsis[]
A plumber (Michael Palin) explains the golden age of ballooning and The Montgolfier Brothers' first ascent in a fire balloon while fixing a toilet with a crowbar.
In 1783, Joseph (Terry Jones) and Jacques Montgolfier (Eric Idle) discuss their first ascent until Jacques goes to wash, when Joseph says "good luck". Joseph then corrects himself that he meant good luck for tomorrow, and they both hope for a safe ascent. Joseph tells Jacques to not use his flannel but Jacque continues to talk about the ascent, saying he's so excited he can hardly wash. Then Joseph says he has had some trouble washing lately then Jacques tells him to not worry about it. Joseph then tells Jacques that he has not been washing for many years, he has washed his face but not his legs, stomach, chest and now they're filthy. He then starts comparing himself to Jacques and calling him "the cleaner of the Montgolfier Brothers".
A O'Toole, a butler of theirs (Graham Chapman), enters and tells them that, after many attempts to pronounce the name properly, a Mr. Bartlett (Peter Brett) wants to see them, but Joseph simply turns him away. Jacques goes to wash his face, neck, feet, but he changes his mind and a camera crew walks in and plays a fighting tournament on a projector while the Announcer (Chapman) tells the audience how the Montgolfier Brothers had a very good wash that day, starting with their face, arms, torso, legs, naughty bits and whole body and they used kilo, a half of carbolic soap and nearly 14 gallons of nice hot water.