Editing Jailhouse Rock (film) (section)

===Critical reception===
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''Jailhouse Rock'' earned mixed, largely negative, reviews upon release, although critical opinion has tended to be more favorable over time.  Some contemporary critics found it scandalous because it portrayed Vince Everett as an antiheroic character,{{sfn|Gabbard|1996|p=125}}{{sfn|Templeton|Craig|2002|p=156}} presented a convict as a hero, used the word "hell" as a profanity and included a scene with Presley in bed with Tyler.{{sfn|Victor|2008|p=269}} The [[Parent-Teacher Association]] described the film as "a hackneyed, blown-up tale with cheap human values."{{sfn|PTA|1957|p=39}} ''[[The New York Times]]'' criticized Guy Trosper for writing a screenplay in which the secondary characters were "forced to hang on to the hero's flying mane and ego for the entire picture." ''Cue'' magazine called the film "[an] unpleasant, mediocre and tasteless drama."{{sfn|Cue|1958|p=22}}

Some publications criticized Presley. ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' panned his onstage personality,{{sfn|Dundy|2004|p=290}} while ''[[The Miami News]]'' compared the film with horror pictures and wrote, "Only Elvis Presley and his 'Jailhouse Rock' can keep pace with the movie debut of this 'personality,' the records show. In estimating the lasting appeal of their grotesque performer."{{sfn|Miami|1957|p=73}} Jazz magazine ''[[Down Beat]]'' wrote that Presley's acting was "amateurish and bland."{{sfn|Down Beat|1958|p=21}} British magazine ''[[The Spectator]]'' described Presley's evolution from his "silly" performance in ''[[Loving You (1957 film)|Loving You]]'' to "dangerously near being repulsive."{{sfn|The Spectator|1958|p=107}}

Other reviewers responded more positively to the film. Louise Boyca of ''[[The Daily Gazette|The Schenectady Gazette]]'' wrote that "it's dear Elvis that gets the soft focus camera and the arty photography." Boyca remarked upon the low production costs of the film, and said that Presley was "in top singing and personality form."{{sfn|Schenectady|1957|p=25}} ''[[The Gadsden Times]]'' said, "Elvis Presley not only proves himself as a dramatic actor&nbsp;...&nbsp; but also reveals his versatility by dancing on the screen for the first time. The movie&nbsp;...&nbsp;also contains Elvis' unique style of singing."{{sfn|Gadsden|1957|p=3}}
''[[Look (American magazine)|Look]]'' favored the film, describing how one audience "registered, loud and often, its approval of what may accurately be described as the star's first big dramatic singing role."{{sfn|Look|1957|p=4}}

More recent critics have tended to praise the film for its vivid portrayal of an iconic moment in music history, and as a welcome contrast to Presley's later films, most of them fluffy musical comedies.  [[Leonard Maltin]] wrote that "Presley's best film captures the legend in all his nostril-flaring pre-Army glory."<ref>Maltin, Leonard.  ''Leonard Maltin's 2014 Movie Guide'' Signet Books.  p, 722</ref>  Author Thomas Doherty wrote in his 2002 book ''Teenagers and Teenpics: The Juvenalization of American Movies in the 1950s:'' "In ''Jailhouse Rock'', the treatment of rock 'n' roll music, both as narrative content and as cinematic performance is knowing and respectful&nbsp;...&nbsp;The elaborate choreography for the title tune, the long takes and uninterrupted screen time given to the other numbers, and the musical pacing—the rock 'n' roll builds in quality and intensity—all show an indigenous appreciation of Presley's rock 'n' Roll."{{sfn|Doherty|2002|p=77}} Critic Hal Erickson of ''[[AllRovi]]'' wrote that the film "is a perfect balance of song and story from beginning to end."{{sfn|AllRovi}} Mark Deming, also of ''AllRovi'', wrote that ''Jailhouse Rock'' was "one of [Presley's] few vehicles which really caught his raw, sexy energy and sneering charisma on film."{{sfn|AllRovi}}

The review aggregate website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] lists the film with an overall 67% "Fresh" approval rating based on 42 reviews.<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jailhouse_rock Jailhouse Rock], Rotten Tomatoes</ref>  It currently has a Metacritic score of 68 out of 100, based on reviews from 12 critics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/jailhouse-rock/ |title=Jailhouse Rock |work=Metacritic |access-date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>