Hepburn stars in a dark comedy
Katharine Hepburn stars as the title character in “Grace Quigley,” a 1985 film that might have been ahead of its time with its darkly humorous take on a serious issue.<br /><br />Grace, whose family has been dead for years, is an elderly woman living alone in a dreary apartment in Manhattan. She’s just been threatened with eviction when she sees a hit man shoot and kill her cold-hearted landlord (Harris Laskawy) practically in front of her. She runs away and hides in the back seat of a car that happens to belong to the hit man. She finds an envelope with the man’s address, escapes when the car stops, and subsequently pays him a visit.<br /><br />The hit man is Seymour Flint (Nick Nolte). Grace tells him she witnessed the murder and promises to keep quiet if she can hire him to kill her. She tried to commit suicide twice and failed. She’s lonely and has nothing to look forward to except getting older and sicker. Seymour is perplexed by the offer. He can use the money, but he’s not accustomed to being hired by his victims.<br /><br />An odd bond forms between Grace and Seymour. He feels sorry for her, and she has a motherly way with him. Grace introduces him to a number of elderly folks who would like to end it all and want to avail themselves of Seymour’s expertise. She believes that Seymour will not be committing murders; he will be performing acts of mercy.<br /><br />“Grace Quigley” is an early example of dark comedy. Director Anthony Harvey centers the film on euthanasia, making light of it while simultaneously bringing out the sadness of older people who feel they’d be better off dead. The old folks — played by character actors Elizabeth Wilson, William Duell, Walter Abel, Truman Gaige, and Frances Pole — play their roles with enthusiasm and happy anticipation that their troubles can come to an end painlessly, without lingering illness and further bodily deterioration. Collectively, they make a bittersweet ensemble illustrating how heavily aging weighs when there’s little in life to balance it.<br /><br />Director Harvey made two previous films with Katharine Hepburn, “The Lion In Winter,” for which Hepburn won a Best Actress Oscar, and the TV film “The Glass Menagerie.” He handles the humor well, though the subject matter is initially jarring. Because Grace is so matter-of-fact about her request, the film nearly takes on the tone of a screwball comedy, though it never is as exaggerated as that classic genre.<br /><br />Grace is a departure from Hepburn’s other screen roles. Hepburn read the script by A. Martin Zweiback back in the 1970s, loved it, and used her influence to get it made. Her performance ranges from pathos to dizzy comedy as she collects unwanted clients for Seymour. She doesn’t rattle off one liners, but plays the absurdity of the situation as if it is merely a negotiation between an ordinary service provider and his clients. Grace is about 50% Grace Quigley and 50% Kate Hepburn, which will probably be OK with fans of the actress. The mannerisms, the voice, the high cheek bones, the piercing eyes, and the distinctive vocal cadence are all here. Hepburn’s Parkinson’s disease is quite apparent as her head shakes uncontrollably.<br /><br />Despite her presence and a first-rate supporting cast, the film never hits its stride and comes off more as a series of episodes than as a connected whole. Scenes between Seymour and his therapist, Dr. Herman (Chip Zien), fall flat and a couple of brief scenes between Grace and a rude cab driver seem gratuitous, though they are likely intended to show the moral dilemma of mercy killing versus revenge killing. Though the film starts well and grabs the viewer with its unorthodox narrative, it falls apart in the third act, which appears rushed and erratic.<br /><br />Bonus features on this 87-minute Region A release include an audio commentary and several theatrical trailers.
The movie title "Grace Quigley [Blu-ray]," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.3 from 62 reviewers. 
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The additional details include the following in key-value format :
 {"Genre": "Comedy", "Format": "NTSC, Subtitled, Anamorphic", "Contributor": "Katharine Hepburn, Nick Nolte, Elizabeth Wilson", "Language": "English", "Runtime": "1 hour and 27 minutes", "MPAA rating": "PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)", "Product Dimensions": "0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.12 Ounces", "Item model number": "unknown", "Media Format": "NTSC, Subtitled, Anamorphic", "Run time": "1 hour and 27 minutes", "Release date": "July 16, 2019", "Actors": "Katharine Hepburn, Nick Nolte, Elizabeth Wilson", "Studio": "KL Studio Classics", "Country of Origin": "USA", "Number of discs": "1"}

Here is a brief synopsis of the title : Brand New 2K Master! Screen legends Katharine Hepburn (The Lion in Winter) and Nick Nolte (Mulholland Falls) are out to make a killing in this wildly outrageous comedy directed by Anthony Harvey (They Might Be Giants). Grace Quigley (Hepburn) has come to the end of her rope and wants out. When she meets a sweet, neurotic hitman, Seymour Flint (Nolte), she comes up with a brainstorm: The unlikely pair will provide a painless parting for seniors who have had enough of life’s slings and arrows. As business booms, Grace and Seymour develop a warm, mother-son relationship, until “mom” begins to have ideas that could put Seymour in the clink for good. The superb supporting cast includes Elizabeth Wilson (9 to 5), Walter Abel (13 Rue Madeleine) and Chip Zine (Howard the Duck). Special Features: -Audio Commentary by Film Historian and Filmmaker Daniel Kremer -Theatrical Trailer.