Before Earthquake, before The Day After Tomorrow, there was the disaster-tinged S.O.S. Tidal Wave. This Republic Pictures favorite has just been released on DVD and Blu-ray via Olive Films. Pioneering TV newsman Jeff Shannon (Ralph Byrd) was wary of using his new medium to intercede in the upcoming New York City mayoral race…but the mounting evidence of corruption by candidate Clifford Farrow (Ferris Taylor) left him no choice. Farrow, however, isn’t above strong-arming Shannon and those closest to him…or a last-ditch effort to close the polls with a hoax broadcast of a “flooded” Manhattan! Unusual programmer (with copious footage from 1933’s Deluge) co-stars George Barbier, Marc Lawrence, Kay Sutton. Originally released on June 2, 1939, this film is interesting in that it plays with themes that would become popular decades later with the disaster movie trend ushered in by the likes of Irwin Allen — making it an unassuming yet still influential — viewing experience.