Phase-difference film, polarizing plate, and liquid-crystal display

The provision of a phase-difference film wherein: a support and an intermediate layer adhere to each other well; said phase-difference film can be reduced in thickness while maintaining a desired tear strength and optical properties suitable for optical compensation in a liquid-crystal display in an in-plane switching mode; and when said phase-difference film is bonded to a polarizer to form a polarizing plate, the resulting polarizing plate exhibits superb durability in hot, humid environments. A phase-difference film that has the following, in this order: a support, an intermediate layer, and a phase-difference layer in which the alignment state of a liquid-crystal material is fixed. The support contains the following: a cellulose acylate, the average acylation degree (DS) of which satisfies the relation 2.0 < DS < 2.6; and a specific polycondensation ester or a specific sugar ester. The intermediate layer contains either an acrylic resin that has a polar group or a polyvinyl-alcohol resin. The phase-difference layer has specific optical properties and contains a homeotropically aligned liquid-crystal compound.