Morgan Freeman’s new film “The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain” — out Nov. 19 — centers on an elderly unarmed black veteran killed by police. Still, he’s broken with the progressive left and told Black Enterprise’s Selena Hill: “I’m not the least bit for defunding the police. Police work is, aside from all the negativity around it, very necessary for us to have.”

Freeman plus a criminal justice professor donated $1 million to establish the University of Mississippi’s Center for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.

And, he says: “This year in our country — that sums it up. Time we equip police officers with training and ensuring ‘law enforcement’ is not defined only as a gun and a stick. Policing should be about that phrase ‘To serve.’  ”

Frankie Faison, who plays the man who gets shot: “I’m certainly not in favor of defunding the police. But I want us all to be treated equally.” . . .

In other movie news, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr. join Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, considered “father of the atomic bomb,” is played by Irish actor Cillian Murphy. Emily Blunt co-stars. Set to release July 21, 2023.

Over-taxed to rebuild the infrastructure of other states, next five years NY finally stands to receive $12.6 billion for our highways, $9.8 billion for public transit, near a billion for airport renovation and incentives for low-income families. Note: The bill passed without the support of Dem Jamaal Bowman from Westchester and The Bronx and that three-named weasel with the center part in her head.

AARP members pay attention: Bob Anderson brings a 32-piece orchestra plus his Frank Sinatra show, “One More for the Road,” to Carnegie Hall Dec. 11. Speaking of an anniversary, it’s the eve of Sinatra’s 106th birthday.

Once upon a nickel, before fast food, there existed a kind of eatery called the automat. Now’s a documentary starring Mel Brooks, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Colin Powell, Carl Reiner, Elliott Gould.

Like nothing else in existence, a lifetime ago the company Horn & Hardart operated this foodery. Its payment — no tips, waiters, waitresses, cooks, maitres, captains, busboys, no nobody — meant putting nickels into slots. Those slots then opened little windows. Those windows then covered small stainless-steel shelves. Those shelves then individually held pie, mac ’n’ cheese, Salisbury steak, sandwich, soup, dessert, salad, whatever. They then opened. And fed you.

“The Automat” doc happens February at the Film Forum.

P.S. A lifetime ago, before goldurned newfangled thingamabobs called streaming TVs and cellphones, there lived big time famous radio comedian Jack Benny. He was No. 1. Early 1960s or so, he gave a much publicized black-tie VIP invite-only huge celebrity party. My comedian husband, also on TV, also president of the theatrical union, American Guild of Variety Artists, was invited. He brought me.

Where was it? The automat. Movie stars, famous faces, internationally known names, all stood in tuxes, floor-length gowns, on lines, clutching little paper rolls of coins to get dinner. Everyone at wooden tables. Paper napkins. Finish your whatever main dish then up again, stand on line, throw in your handed-out coins and schlep your doughnut or crappy BLT back to some rickety chair.

The automat is here again. On TV. Everything seems to be coming back — except for kindness, patience, employment, patriotism, government, decent wardrobe and the ability to drive crosstown. 

This fellow opened a meat market. Getting set for Thanksgiving a preacher stopped in to try and persuade the butcher to accept salvation. Said the butcher: “Listen pastor, if I get religion, who’s going to weigh the turkeys?”

Only in New York, kids, only in New York.