THURSDAY: The Haunted West. National Geographic special explores the remnants of the Old West legend among the modern day descendants of the cowboys, the Indians, and the miners. Narrated by Leslie Nielson. CH.7. Color. 60 min.

Hamlet. (1969) PBS opens its new "Humanities Film Forum" series with director Tony Richardson's cinematic adaptation of his London stage production of the Shakespearian tragedy. Nicol Williamson stars as the Prince of Denmark, portraying Hamlet as an anti-hero in a markedly modern interpretation of the role. CH.2. 8 p.m. Color. 2 hrs. 30 min.

FRIDAY: The Wrong Man. (1957) Hitchcock-directed tale from a Maxwell Anderson screen play based on a true incident involving a musician falsely accused of murder. CH.56. 11 p.m. B-W. 2 hrs.

In Concert. The Bee Gees, Steely Dan, Focus, and local boys J. Geils Band in simulcast stereo. CH.5. WGBH-TV. 11:30 p.m. Color. 90 min.

SATURDAY: A Thousand Clowns. (1965) Jason Robards as Murray Burns, the delightful eccentric who knows "why he was born a human being and not a chair." CH.4. 9 p.m. Color. 2 hrs. 30 min.

MONDAY: James Paul McCartney. Special British production has the ex-Beatle doing his post-breakup music with his wife and his coterie, Wings. CH.5. 8 p.m. Color. 60 min.

TUESDAY: Upon This Rock. A millenium and a half of the St. Peter's basilica in Rome are reviewed in this artful special production. Sir Ralph Richardson hosts with Orson Welles, Dick Bogarde and Dame Edith Evans making brief appearances. CH.4. 10 p.m. Color. 60 min.

WEDNESDAY: Shenyang Acrobatic Troupe. Dazzling acrobatic performance by a 40-member troupe from the People's Republic of China, taped in January at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in D.C. CH.5. 8:30 p.m. Color. 90 min.