THE VERMILLION DOOR is another Shaw Brothers-made slice of melodrama about the course of young love running decidedly unsmoothly. The story is packed to the hilt with intrigue and tragedy, focusing on a young woman whose chance at happiness is cruelly dashed by problems all around. The backdrop is the warlord era so expect corrupt and unpleasant officials alongside familial suffering and, eventually, tragedy. There's also the most overwrought, downbeat climax I can remember seeing in a movie...