Murder at Midnight
The Ape Song
von Peter Martin
In “The Ape Song,” big-game hunter Crain Folliette returns from an African safari with a live ape and a plan to have it murder his wife, Cecily. Convinced that he can make the animal carry out a crime for which a human would be punished, Folliette treats the ape as a tool—and underestimates the danger of trying to command a creature he considers beneath him.
Raymond Edward Johnson plays Folliette with chilling self-importance, while Ruth Yorke brings a quieter, more restrained presence to Cecily. Brad Barker supplies the ape’s performance, making the animal feel convincingly alive and menacing. The contrast between Folliette’s confidence, Cecily’s vulnerability, and the ape’s growing threat drives the story toward a tense climax.
The episode reflects Murder at Midnight’s dark dramatic style, turning a disturbing premise into a tale of suspense and human cruelty. Its central question—whether civilization truly separates people from beasts—gives the horror a sharp edge, while the performances make the threat feel immediate and unsettling.
This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.