Unveiling the chilling events of 1920s Oklahoma, Killers of the Flower Moon: The True Story Behind Martin Scorsese’s Latest Epic is a cinematic tour de force adapted from David Grann’s non-fiction book. This sprawling narrative revolves around the investigation into the heinous murders of Osage people, intricately weaving themes of greed, wealth, conspiracy, racism, and the formative years of the FBI. As Grann’s meticulously documented facts pave the way, it becomes evident why Scorsese’s newest film stands as one of his great masterpieces.
Central to both Grann’s narrative and Scorsese’s visual rendition are Mollie and Ernest Burkhart, portrayed by Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio. This married couple becomes entangled in a malevolent conspiracy targeting the affluent Osage community, with Mollie’s sister’s mysterious demise serving as a pivotal point in the unfolding tragedy. To comprehend the full scope of the conspiracy, a deeper exploration into the motivations behind the initial wave of deaths is imperative. Killers of the Flower Moon: The True Story Behind Martin Scorsese’s Latest Epic emerges as a riveting exploration into a dark chapter of history, skillfully brought to life through Scorsese’s directorial prowess.
The Extraordinary Wealth of the Osage
The Osage displayed remarkable foresight in amassing their wealth, preempting even the most prominent American oil companies in recognizing the abundance of black gold within Osage territory. Sensing that their land was deemed undesirable by white settlers, the Osage strategically secured extensive parcels, isolating themselves and setting the stage for a substantial windfall once the oil’s riches became widely known.
Despite the Osage’s meticulous planning, resentment brewed among white individuals who believed that the prosperity of these Native Americans was undeserved. White critics argued that the federal government, perhaps unwittingly, granted the Osage highly valuable land through sheer luck. This perception fueled a sentiment among certain white Oklahomans that drastic measures were necessary to reclaim wealth perceived as slipping away.
Among those harboring resentment towards the Osage’s affluence was William Hale, a gruff yet influential figure in Oklahoma politics and the uncle of Ernest Burkhart. Despite outwardly appearing as an ally to the Osage, Hale skillfully navigated local politics, ensuring the success of politicians indebted to him. While outwardly engaging with and defending the Osage against oppressive government policies, Hale’s involvement in murder investigations exposed a more sinister reality beneath his seemingly compassionate facade.
What Was Oklahoma Like in the 1920s?
The government exerted considerable efforts to enforce the assimilation of the Osage into the American way of life. Osage children found themselves compelled to attend American schools, adopt English as their language, and embrace Christianity—a common imposition on many Native nations. The government’s reach extended even to controlling Osage spending, subjecting their expenditures to scrutiny by members of Congress. Wealthy American Indians were assigned “guardians” to oversee their finances, highlighting the extent of external control.
During this period in American history, local police departments faced challenges, being either understaffed, underfunded, or entirely nonexistent. Consequently, complex tasks like investigating murders fell into the hands of inexperienced locals who took it upon themselves to gather evidence and interrogate suspects. For the affluent, the option of hiring private detectives, such as the Pinkertons, emerged. These dedicated investigators operated with relentless determination, occasionally blurring the lines between legal and illegal investigatory methods, as they delved into uncovering mysteries shrouded beneath layers of lies and corruption.
The Osage Hired Pinkertons and Found Investigators To Look Into the Murders
The Osage, facing a wave of suspicious deaths among their tribe members, opted to enlist Pinkerton agents for investigations. As these inquiries unfolded, the unsettling realization dawned that a comprehensive conspiracy might underlie the pervasive violence. In a grim turn of events, an Osage representative, seeking federal intervention in Washington D.C., met a brutal demise. The prevailing belief was that his assailants had tracked him from Oklahoma to Washington, eliminating him as a dire warning against delving too deeply into the enigmatic Osage murder cases.
Subsequently, responding to a horrific incident where a bomb destroyed an Osage home, claiming three lives and terrorizing the community, the governor of Oklahoma dispatched his lead investigator. However, this state investigator’s involvement in illicit activities, including collaboration with local criminals and acceptance of bribes, rendered him ineffectual in uncovering the origins of the murders.
Enter Agent Tom White (Jesse Plemons) of the newly-established Federal Bureau of Investigation, arriving in Oklahoma with the intent of serving as an impartial and unyielding investigator. Endowed with the authority to overrule local power dynamics, White marshaled a team of agents, including an American Indian, to break through the years of stagnation and fruitless pursuits, ultimately aiming to solve the perplexing series of brutal murders.
How Did Agent White Uncover the Truth Behind the Osage County Murders?
Within a mere few months, Agent White’s exceptionally skilled investigative team commenced the unraveling of the conspiracy enveloping the Osage deaths. They discovered that many designated “guardians,” entrusted with overseeing the wealth of affluent Osage individuals, were irredeemably corrupt. Exploiting various avenues, these guardians shamelessly pilfered a staggering sum, totaling at least $8 million, from their wards. The breadth of this elaborate graft extended beyond the guardians, encompassing judges, lawyers, doctors, and businessmen across Oklahoma. Evidently, numerous influential figures were implicated in the systematic embezzlement of funds from the Osage.
At the center of this malevolent web was William Hale, who appeared to reap substantial benefits from the murders. Profiting $25,000 as the beneficiary of a murdered Osage man’s life insurance policy, Hale further utilized a forged creditor’s note to claim $6,000 from another recently deceased Osage man’s estate. Agent White discerned a sinister pattern wherein the collective deaths of Osage victims strategically directed land rights towards Mollie Burkhart, wife of Hale’s nephew Ernest. These murders weren’t random; they were intricately orchestrated to ensure an accumulation of oil-rich land under Mollie’s ownership. Yet, one chilling step remained in Hale’s nefarious plan: the elimination of Mollie to consolidate all land rights for his nephew Ernest.
Recognizing the imminent danger to Mollie’s life, Agent White uncovered a disturbing truth—she was under the control of doctors manipulated by Hale. Diagnosed with diabetes, Mollie ostensibly received insulin injections from these corrupt doctors, but paradoxically, her condition only worsened. Upon transferring her care to a hospital away from Hale’s influence, Mollie’s health miraculously improved. It became evident that, under Hale’s malevolent instructions, Mollie was likely subjected to a slow and deliberate poisoning scheme, rendering her another potential victim had Agent White not intervened.
What Happened During William Hale’s Trial?
Once the FBI amassed ample evidence against Hale, the ensuing trial unfolded as a media sensation, replete with seemingly endless twists and turns. In a dramatic turn of events, Ernest Burkhart openly implicated his uncle William Hale in the conspiracy to profit from the murders of Osage people. Shockingly, Burkhart admitted to personally hiring the individual responsible for one of the Osage victims’ deaths at his uncle’s behest. However, the courtroom drama escalated when, after a brief encounter with Hale’s lawyers, Ernest recanted his statements, only to later change his plea to guilty. Simultaneously, Hale alleged that FBI agents had used extreme interrogation tactics, prompting calls for Agent White’s removal until the lack of credibility in Hale’s accusations became evident.
Unveiling corruption in the original trial, a retrial ensued, culminating in Hale’s conviction for first-degree murder and a life sentence. The stark contrast emerged when considering that, had the victims been white, Hale might have faced the death penalty. Ernest Burkhart received a similar life sentence, leading to Mollie’s horrified divorce upon discovering her husband’s complicity in the murders. Agent White, departing the FBI, assumed the role of the prison warden where Hale was held captive.
The Osage, defining these atrocities as the “reign of terror,” grappled with the haunting aftermath. As “Killers of the Flower Moon” author David Grann delved into this legacy, he uncovered a disconcerting truth—Hale, though apprehended, represented only one among potentially numerous white individuals responsible for the deaths of countless Native Americans. Tragically, the true toll of this reign of terror in terms of lives and wealth will likely forever remain shrouded in uncertainty.
Summing It Up!
In conclusion, Killers of the Flower Moon: The True Story Behind Martin Scorsese’s Latest Epic serves as a riveting exploration into a dark chapter of history, skillfully brought to life through Scorsese’s directorial prowess. The film unravels the chilling events of 1920s Oklahoma, delving into the heinous murders of Osage people and intricately weaving themes of greed, wealth, conspiracy, racism, and the formative years of the FBI. Central to this narrative are Mollie and Ernest Burkhart, whose entanglement in a malevolent conspiracy sheds light on the profound consequences of the Osage murders. As Agent Tom White uncovers the truth behind the Osage County murders, the film exposes the depth of corruption that permeated society, leading to a sensational trial that laid bare the extent of the atrocities. Killers of the Flower Moon stands as a cinematic masterpiece, shedding light on a tragic period in history that echoes the broader struggles of Native Americans in the face of injustice and exploitation.
